Antisense modulation of protein kinase R expression

ABSTRACT

Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Protein Kinase R. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Protein Kinase R. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Protein Kinase R expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Protein Kinase R are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of Protein Kinase R. In particular, this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding Protein Kinase R. Such compounds have been shown to modulate the expression of Protein Kinase R.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the family of extracellular cytokines, interferons are glycoprotein signaling molecules that are secreted in response to viral infection. Interferon synthesis is induced by the presence of RNA with double stranded character, which is a common intermediate in the replication of many viruses. Interferons bind to cell-surface receptors and stimulate an antiviral, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory response in host cells by inhibiting the replication of both RNA and DNA viruses and by activating the transcription of more than three-hundred interferon-stimulated genes (de Veer et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 2001, 69, 912-920).

[0003] Interferon induces the synthesis of antiviral 2′5′-oligoadenylate synthetases, enzymes that catalyze the production of an unusual nucleotide compound, pppA(2′, 5′A)_(n). These 2′, 5′-oligoadenylates then bind and activate a latent ribonuclease, RNase L, which degrades viral and cellular mRNA and ribosomal RNA, thereby halting protein synthesis (de Veer et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 2001, 69, 912-920).

[0004] Serving to prevent viral replication and infection, or to silence transposon hopping in the germline, is a natural biological process called double-stranded RNA-induced gene silencing, or RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a process in which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to the sense and antisense sequence of an endogenous mRNA is introduced into a cell, and the cognate mRNA is degraded and the gene silenced (Bass, Cell, 2000, 101, 235-238; Montgomery and Fire, Trends Genet., 1998, 14, 255-258).

[0005] Interferons also induce the production of a serine/threonine kinase, Protein Kinase R (also known as PKR, PRKR, interferon-induced double-stranded RNA-activated p68 kinase, DAI, dsI, and P1/eIF2 α protein kinase). Protein kinase R plays an important role in the anti-viral response mediated by interferons, and is activated following infection by influenza virus, adenovirus, hepatitis C virus, and human immnuodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (Balachandran et al., Embo J., 1998, 17, 6888-6902).

[0006] In the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), Protein Kinase R autophosphorylates, which activates its enzymatic activity, and Protein Kinase R then catalyzes phosphorylation of its substrates. Substrates for Protein Kinase R include the alpha subunit of eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and B56α (the regulatory subunit of human protein phosphatase 2A). These substrates act in two separate dsRNA-triggered antiviral programs involving the production of antiviral interferons and other alarmone cytokines and the expression of antiapoptotic genes (Iordanov et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 2001, 21, 61-72; Xu and Williams, Mol. Cell. Biol., 2000, 20, 5285-5299).

[0007] The phosphorylation of eIF-2α inhibits the factor at the initiation stage of translation. Because eIF-2α regulates protein synthesis in interferon-treated and virus-infected cells, Protein Kinase R is a central component of the interferon-induced antiviral response, and may play an important role in the control of cell growth and differentiation in uninfected cells (Kuhen et al., Gene, 1996, 178, 191-193).

[0008] Protein kinase R was first isolated as lambda phage and P1 phage clones from a human genomic library (Kuhen et al., Gene, 1996, 178, 191-193) and the organization of the regulatory and catalytic subdomains of the human and mouse gene products was found to be remarkably conserved (Kuhen et al., Genomics, 1996, 36, 197-201). By fluorescence in situ hybridization, the human Protein Kinase R gene was localized to the 2p21 chromosomal locus, and the mouse gene was mapped to chromosome 17 (band E2) (Barber et al., Genomics, 1993, 16, 765-767). Clusters of nonrandom breakpoints, translocations, and other alterations near the 2p21 region of the human chromosome are associated with lipomas, large cell lymphomas, immunoblastic lymphomas, T cell leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, primary congenital glaucoma, and acute myeloid leukemia (Barber et al., Genomics, 1993, 16, 765-767; Sarfarazi et al., Genomics, 1995, 30, 171-177).

[0009] Homodimerization is required to activate Protein Kinase R, and heterodimerization between Protein Kinase R and other dsRNA-binding proteins can inhibit its kinase activity. One dsRNA-binding protein, p74, interacts with both Protein Kinase R and with a catalytically defective mutant of Protein Kinase R, and modulates cell growth (Coolidge and Patton, Nucleic Acids Res., 2000, 28, 1407-1417).

[0010] In hepatitis C virus infections, most viral isolates are resistant to treatment with interferon, and the virus is believed to have mechanisms of circumventing the antiviral effect of interferon. One such mechanism involves the hepatitis C virus envelope protein, E2, which bears a sequence identical to phosphorylation sites in Protein Kinase R and in the Protein Kinase R target, eIF-2α. The viral E2 protein inhibits Protein Kinase R activity and blocks its inhibitory effect on protein synthesis and cell growth (Taylor et al., Science, 1999, 285, 107-110).

[0011] Another potential outcome of Protein Kinase R inhibition by hepatitis C viral protein E2 is the promotion of cell growth, which may contribute to the development of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (He et al., J. Virol., 2001, 75, 5090-5098).

[0012] Protein kinase R has also been proposed to play a role in the induction of cell death. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, occurs in response to cellular stresses such as growth factor deprivation, UV light, inflammatory cytokine production, and viral infection. Apoptosis is also induced in murine 3T3 L1 cells by overexpression of wild type Protein Kinase R when treated with dsRNA. Conversely, overexpression of a catalytically inactive dominant-negative mutant Protein Kinase R causes malignant transformation and resistance to apoptosis, indicating the importance of this kinase in regulation of cellular proliferation (Balachandran et al., Embo J., 1998, 17, 6888-6902).

[0013] Mice with a targeted deletion in the Protein Kinase R gene develop normally with no phenotypic defects, but have an impaired antiviral response upon dsRNA or interferon treatment, and murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from these Protein Kinase R null mice are less sensitive to apoptotic stimuli than MEFs obtained from isogenic normal mice (Der et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1997, 94, 3279-3283). These mice are also more susceptible to infection by influenza virus, which may result from a failure to halt protein synthesis and an increase in viral replication, from a reduction of apoptosis (allowing the virus to replicate to higher levels during infection), or from a defect in Protein Kinase R-mediated stimulation of the immune system (de Veer et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 2001, 69, 912-920).

[0014] The pharmacological modulation of Protein Kinase R activity and/or expression is therefore believed to be an appropriate point of therapeutic intervention in viral infections, in pathological conditions such as cancer, in diseases affected by the misregulation of apoptotic pathways, as well as a target for the functional elucidation and/or the regulation of alternate RNA processing mechanisms such as RNAi.

[0015] Antisense-mediated inhibition of Protein Kinase R has been utilized as a tool to elucidate mechanisms of the interferon signal transduction pathway. The vaccinia virus has been used to infect cultured African green monkey kidney (BSC-40) cells, causing induction of the expression of an antisense mRNA transcript of Protein Kinase R, demonstrating that Protein Kinase R potently inhibits protein synthesis (Lee et al., Virology, 1993, 192, 380-385). Similarly, an eukaryotic expression vector was used to stably transform U-937 cells and inhibit expression of Protein Kinase R with antisense mRNA transcripts of the cDNA (Der and Lau, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1995, 92, 8841-8845).

[0016] Disclosed and claimed in PCT Publication WO 97/08292 are methods for production of viral vaccines comprising infection of a cell culture deficient in Protein Kinase R activity, wherein said cells are obtained by transfection with or culturing cells in the presence of a Protein Kinase R antisense polynucleotide (Lau, 1997).

[0017] An antisense oligonucleotide, 19 nucleotides in length, was used to show that Protein Kinase R has an essential role in mediating the induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (Yeung et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1996, 93, 12451-12455).

[0018] A phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide, 18 nucleotides in length, complementary to the 5′ end of the mRNA transcript, was used to show that inhibition of expression of Protein Kinase R blocked the induction of several immediate early genes (Mundschau and Faller, J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 3100-3106).

[0019] Because Protein Kinase R is activated by dsRNA, chimeric antisense oligonucleotides have been designed based on the binding site for 2′, 5′-oligoadenylates, 55-73 nucleotides down from the start codon of the Protein Kinase R mRNA (Cramer et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1999, 9, 1049-1054; Deb et al., J. Immunol., 2001, 166, 6170-6180; Maitra et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 15071-15075; Maran et al., Science, 1994, 265, 789-792; Xiao et al., J. Med. Chem., 1997, 40, 1195-1200; Xiao et al., J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 1531-1539). For example, the chimeric antisense oligonucleotide 5′-S_(p) (A2′_(p))₃ A-linker-GTACTACTCCCTGCTTCTG-3′-3′tail(dC)-5′ was used to show that Protein Kinase R is required for interferon gamma signaling to NF-κB (Deb et al., J. Immunol., 2001, 166, 6170-6180).

[0020] Disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,289 is an improvement in a method wherein an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to a target strand of mRNA is administered to a mammal, wherein the mammal is human, to reduce or inhibit the activity of the mRNA, the improvement comprising attaching an activator of ribonuclease L to an oligonucleotide, wherein the activator is an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the Protein Kinase R mRNA (Torrence et al., 1997).

[0021] Disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,503 is a recombinant vector containing a cassette for transcription by RNA polymerase III, into which an oligonucleotide has been inserted, and used as a medicinal product. In one embodiment of the invention, the inserted oligonucleotide includes nucleotides encoding an antisense molecule that inhibits Protein Kinase R (Doglio et al., 1998).

[0022] However, these strategies are untested as therapeutic protocols, and currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of Protein Kinase R. Consequently, the need for additional agents capable of effectively inhibiting Protein Kinase R function remains.

[0023] Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of Protein Kinase R expression.

[0024] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating Protein Kinase R expression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention is directed to compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding Protein Kinase R, and which modulate the expression of Protein Kinase R. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of Protein Kinase R in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of Protein Kinase R by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention employs oligomeric compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding Protein Kinase R, ultimately modulating the amount of Protein Kinase R produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding Protein Kinase R. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid encoding Protein Kinase R” encompass DNA encoding Protein Kinase R, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of Protein Kinase R. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. In the context of the present invention, inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.

[0027] It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of this invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding Protein Kinase R. The targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein, will result. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding Protein Kinase R, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons.

[0028] It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively). The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon.

[0029] The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene. The 5′ cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap. The 5′ cap region may also be a preferred target region.

[0030] Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. mRNA splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions, may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.

[0031] Once one or more target sites have been identified, oligonucleotides are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

[0032] In the context of this invention, “hybridization” means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. “Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleotides. For example, if a nucleotide at a certain position of an oligonucleotide is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleotide at the same position of a DNA or RNA molecule, then the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are considered to be complementary to each other at that position. The oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target. It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.

[0033] Antisense and other compounds of the invention which hybridize to the target and inhibit expression of the target are identified through experimentation, and the sequences of these compounds are hereinbelow identified as preferred embodiments of the invention. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are hereinbelow referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting. Therefore another embodiment of the invention encompasses compounds which hybridize to these active sites.

[0034] Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway. Antisense modulation has, therefore, been harnessed for research use.

[0035] For use in kits and diagnostics, the antisense compounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other antisense compounds or therapeutics, can be used as tools in differential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of a portion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells and tissues.

[0036] Expression patterns within cells or tissues treated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to control cells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patterns produced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affect expression patterns.

[0037] Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art include DNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 17-24; Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16), SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) (Madden, et al., Drug Discov. Today, 2000, 5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs) (Prashar and Weissman, Methods Enzymol., 1999, 303, 258-72), TOGA (total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2000, 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis, 1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000, 80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SURF) (Fuchs, et al., Anal. Biochem., 2000, 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., Cytometry, 2000, 41, 203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic and Belmont, Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 316-21), comparative genomic hybridization (Carulli, et al., J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 1998, 31, 286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going and Gusterson, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometry methods (reviewed in (To, Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen, 2000, 3, 235-41).

[0038] The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.

[0039] In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally-occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

[0040] While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below. The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 50 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 50 linked nucleosides). Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 30 nucleobases. Antisense compounds include ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides (oligozymes), and other short catalytic RNAs or catalytic oligonucleotides which hybridize to the target nucleic acid and modulate its expression.

[0041] As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn the respective ends of this linear polymeric structure can be further joined to form a circular structure, however, open linear structures are generally preferred. Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

[0042] Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

[0043] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates, 5′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′ or 2′ to 2′ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3′ to 3′ linkage at the 3′-most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

[0044] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; 5,194,599; 5,565,555; 5,527,899; 5,721,218; 5,672,697 and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0045] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; riboacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

[0046] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0047] In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

[0048] Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

[0049] Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; O—, S— or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃)]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2—-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

[0050] A further prefered modification includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2′-hydroxyl group is linked to the 3′ or 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety. The linkage is preferably a methelyne (—CH₂—)_(n) group bridging the 2′ oxygen atom and the 4′ carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2. LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

[0051] Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), 2′-allyl (2′-CH₂—CH═CH₂), 2′-O-allyl (2′-O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). The 2′-modification may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. A preferred 2′-arabino modification is 2′-F. Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. No.: 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; 5,792,747; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0052] Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C≡C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine(1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3′, 2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

[0053] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,645,985; 5,830,653; 5,763,588; 6,005,096; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

[0054] Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. The compounds of the invention can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention include intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Typical conjugates groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, enhance oligomer resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with RNA. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23, 1992 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923-937. Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/334,130 (filed Jun. 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0055] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0056] It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

[0057] Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0058] The antisense compounds used in accordance with this invention may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives.

[0059] The antisense compounds of the invention are synthesized in vitro and do not include antisense compositions of biological origin, or genetic vector constructs designed to direct the in vivo synthesis of antisense molecules. The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0060] The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents.

[0061] The term “prodrug” indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions. In particular, prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al., published Dec. 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,713 to Imbach et al.

[0062] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.

[0063] Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Examples of metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like. Examples of suitable amines are N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, and procaine (see, for example, Berge et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. of Pharma Sci., 1977, 66, 1-19). The base addition salts of said acidic compounds are prepared by contacting the free acid form with a sufficient amount of the desired base to produce the salt in the conventional manner. The free acid form may be regenerated by contacting the salt form with an acid and isolating the free acid in the conventional manner. The free acid forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to their respective free acid for purposes of the present invention. As used herein, a “pharmaceutical addition salt” includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an acid form of one of the components of the compositions of the invention. These include organic or inorganic acid salts of the amines. Preferred acid salts are the hydrochlorides, acetates, salicylates, nitrates and phosphates. Other suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known to those skilled in the art and include basic salts of a variety of inorganic and organic acids, such as, for example, with inorganic acids, such as for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotinic acid; and with amino acids, such as the 20 alpha-amino acids involved in the synthesis of proteins in nature, for example glutamic acid or aspartic acid, and also with phenylacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose-6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid (with the formation of cyclamates), or with other acid organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible.

[0064] For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include but are not limited to (a) salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, polyamines such as spermine and spermidine, etc.; (b) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids, for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and the like; (c) salts formed with organic acids such as, for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonic acid, and the like; and (d) salts formed from elemental anions such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

[0065] The antisense compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of Protein Kinase R is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention. The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of an antisense compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the antisense compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically, e.g., to prevent or delay infection, inflammation or tumor formation, for example.

[0066] The antisense compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding Protein Kinase R, enabling sandwich and other assays to easily be constructed to exploit this fact. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding Protein Kinase R can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of Protein Kinase R in a sample may also be prepared.

[0067] The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.

[0068] Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful. Preferred topical formulations include those in which the oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g. dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA). Oligonucleotides of the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fatty acids and esters include but are not limited arachidonic acid, oleic acid, eicosanoic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl ester (e.g. isopropylmyristate IPM), monoglyceride, diglyceride or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0069] Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Prefered bile acids/salts include chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glucholic acid, glycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate, sodium glycodihydrofusidate,. Prefered fatty acids include arachidonic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a monoglyceride, a diglyceride or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g. sodium). Also prefered are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularly prefered combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered orally in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotide complexing agents include poly-amino acids; polyimines; polyacrylates; polyalkylacrylates, polyoxethanes, polyalkylcyanoacrylates; cationized gelatins, albumins, starches, acrylates, polyethyleneglycols (PEG) and starches; polyalkylcyanoacrylates; DEAE-derivatized polyimines, pollulans, celluloses and starches. Particularly preferred complexing agents include chitosan, N-trimethylchitosan, poly-L-lysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, polyspermines, protamine, polyvinylpyridine, polythiodiethylamino-methylethylene P(TDAE), polyaminostyrene (e.g. p-amino), poly(methylcyanoacrylate), poly(ethylcyanoacrylate), poly(butylcyanoacrylate), poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate), poly(isohexylcynaoacrylate), DEAE-methacrylate, DEAE-hexylacrylate, DEAE-acrylamide, DEAE-albumin and DEAE-dextran, polymethylacrylate, polyhexylacrylate, poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), alginate, and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Oral formulations for oligonucleotides and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 08/886,829 (filed Jul. 1, 1997), 09/108,673 (filed Jul. 1, 1998), 09/256,515 (filed Feb. 23, 1999), 09/082,624 (filed May 21, 1998) and 09/315,298 (filed May 20, 1999) each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0070] Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

[0071] Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.

[0072] The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

[0073] The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0074] In one embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams. Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product. The preparation of such compositions and formulations is generally known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical and formulation arts and may be applied to the formulation of the compositions of the present invention.

[0075] Emulsions

[0076] The compositions of the present invention may be prepared and formulated as emulsions. Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199; Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., Volume 1, p. 245; Block in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 2, p. 335; Higuchi et al., in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 301). Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising of two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other. In general, emulsions may be either water-in-oil (w/o) or of the oil-in-water (o/w) variety. When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. Alternatively, when an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed. Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions. Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not. Multiple emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion. Likewise a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous provides an o/w/o emulsion.

[0077] Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability. Often, the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation. Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams. Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion. Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0078] Synthetic surfactants, also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, volume 1, p. 199). Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion. The ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations. Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285).

[0079] Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia. Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations. These include polar inorganic solids, such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.

[0080] A large variety of non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0081] Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth), cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose), and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers). These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase.

[0082] Since emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives. Commonly used preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid. Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation. Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.

[0083] The application of emulsion formulations via dermatological, oral and parenteral routes and methods for their manufacture have been reviewed in the literature (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of reasons of ease of formulation, efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint. (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Mineral-oil base laxatives, oil-soluble vitamins and high fat nutritive preparations are among the materials that have commonly been administered orally as o/w emulsions.

[0084] In one embodiment of the present invention, the compositions of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Typically microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system. Therefore, microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in: Controlled Release of Drugs: Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M., Ed., 1989, VCH Publishers, New York, pages 185-215). Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 271).

[0085] The phenomenological approach utilizing phase diagrams has been extensively studied and has yielded a comprehensive knowledge, to one skilled in the art, of how to formulate microemulsions (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335). Compared to conventional emulsions, microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneously.

[0086] Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate (ML310), tetraglycerol monooleate (MO310), hexaglycerol monooleate (PO310), hexaglycerol pentaoleate (PO500), decaglycerol monocaprate (MCA750), decaglycerol monooleate (MO750), decaglycerol sequioleate (SO750), decaglycerol decaoleate (DAO750), alone or in combination with cosurfactants. The cosurfactant, usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules. Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self-emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art. The aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol. The oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil.

[0087] Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs. Lipid based microemulsions (both o/w and w/o) have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth. Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., 1993, 13, 205). Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385; Ho et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1996, 85, 138-143). Often microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or oligonucleotides. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. It is expected that the microemulsion compositions and formulations of the present invention will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids within the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, buccal cavity and other areas of administration.

[0088] Microemulsions of the present invention may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the oligonucleotides and nucleic acids of the present invention. Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions of the present invention may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories—surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of these classes has been discussed above.

[0089] Liposomes

[0090] There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery. As used in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers.

[0091] Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall. Non-cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo.

[0092] In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores.

[0093] Further advantages of liposomes include; liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.

[0094] Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes. As the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.

[0095] Liposomal formulations have been the focus of extensive investigation as the mode of delivery for many drugs. There is growing evidence that for topical administration, liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side-effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.

[0096] Several reports have detailed the ability of liposomes to deliver agents including high-molecular weight DNA into the skin. Compounds including analgesics, antibodies, hormones and high-molecular weight DNAs have been administered to the skin. The majority of applications resulted in the targeting of the upper epidermis.

[0097] Liposomes fall into two broad classes. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. The positively charged DNA/liposome complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome. Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1987, 147, 980-985).

[0098] Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al., Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274).

[0099] One major type of liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine. Neutral liposome compositions, for example, can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC. Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.

[0100] Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g. as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al., Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410). Further, an additional study tested the efficacy of interferon administered as part of a liposomal formulation to the administration of interferon using an aqueous system, and concluded that the liposomal formulation was superior to aqueous administration (du Plessis et al., Antiviral Research, 1992, 18, 259-265).

[0101] Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising Novasome™ I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and Novasome™ II (glyceryl distearate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al. S.T.P.Pharma. Sci., 1994, 4, 6, 466).

[0102] Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G_(M1), or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought in the art that, at least for sterically stabilized liposomes containing gangliosides, sphingomyelin, or PEG-derivatized lipids, the enhanced circulation half-life of these sterically stabilized liposomes derives from a reduced uptake into cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) (Allen et al., FEBS Letters, 1987, 223, 42; Wu et al., Cancer Research, 1993, 53, 3765).

[0103] Various liposomes comprising one or more glycolipids are known in the art. Papahadjopoulos et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1987, 507, 64) reported the ability of monosialoganglioside G_(M1), galactocerebroside sulfate and phosphatidylinositol to improve blood half-lives of liposomes. These findings were expounded upon by Gabizon et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1988, 85, 6949). U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028 and WO 88/04924, both to Allen et al., disclose liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G_(M1) or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,152 (Webb et al.) discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-sn-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al.).

[0104] Many liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art. Sunamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1980, 53, 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C₁₂15G, that contains a PEG moiety. Illum et al. (FEBS Lett., 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives. Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols (e.g., PEG) are described by Sears (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,330 and 4,534,899). Klibanov et al. (FEBS Lett., 1990, 268, 235) described experiments demonstrating that liposomes comprising phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivatized with PEG or PEG stearate have significant increases in blood circulation half-lives. Blume et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1990, 1029, 91) extended such observations to other PEG-derivatized phospholipids, e.g., DSPE-PEG, formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG. Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No. EP 0 445 131 B1 and WO 90/04384 to Fisher. Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 B1). Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO 91/05545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,212 (both to Martin et al.) and in WO 94/20073 (Zalipsky et al.) Liposomes comprising PEG-modified ceramide lipids are described in WO 96/10391 (Choi et al.). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,540,935 (Miyazaki et al.) and 5,556,948 (Tagawa et al.) describe PEG-containing liposomes that can be further derivatized with functional moieties on their surfaces.

[0105] A limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art. WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al. discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al. discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include an antisense RNA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al. describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes. WO 97/04787 to Love et al. discloses liposomes comprising antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the raf gene.

[0106] Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet. Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e.g. they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin), self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge-activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.

[0107] Surfactants find wide application in formulations such as emulsions (including microemulsions) and liposomes. The most common way of classifying and ranking the properties of the many different types of surfactants, both natural and synthetic, is by the use of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB). The nature of the hydrophilic group (also known as the “head”) provides the most useful means for categorizing the different surfactants used in formulations (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0108] If the surfactant molecule is not ionized, it is classified as a nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure. Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters. Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class. The polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.

[0109] If the surfactant molecule carries a negative charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as anionic. Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. The most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.

[0110] If the surfactant molecule carries a positive charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as cationic. Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class.

[0111] If the surfactant molecule has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge, the surfactant is classified as amphoteric. Amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

[0112] The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions has been reviewed (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0113] Penetration Enhancers

[0114] In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides, to the skin of animals. Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.

[0115] Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92). Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.

[0116] Surfactants: In connection with the present invention, surfactants (or “surface-active agents”) are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. In addition to bile salts and fatty acids, these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1988, 40, 252).

[0117] Fatty acids: Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid), myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol), dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl esters thereof (e.g., methyl, isopropyl and t-butyl), and mono- and di-glycerides thereof (i.e., oleate, laurate, caprate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, linoleate, etc.) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; El Hariri et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1992, 44, 651-654).

[0118] Bile salts: The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th Ed., Hardman et al. Eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996, pp. 934-935). Various natural bile salts, and their synthetic derivatives, act as penetration enhancers. Thus the term “bile salts” includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives. The bile salts of the invention include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate), dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate), deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate), glucholic acid (sodium glucholate), glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate), glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate), taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate), taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate), chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate (STDHF), sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Swinyard, Chapter 39 In: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1990, pages 782-783; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Yamamoto et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1992, 263, 25; Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1990, 79, 579-583).

[0119] Chelating Agents: Chelating agents, as used in connection with the present invention, can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. With regards to their use as penetration enhancers in the present invention, chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr., 1993, 618, 315-339). Chelating agents of the invention include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), citric acid, salicylates (e.g., sodium salicylate, 5-methoxysalicylate and homovanilate), N-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and N-amino acyl derivatives of beta-diketones (enamines)(Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al., J. Control Rel., 1990, 14, 43-51).

[0120] Non-chelating non-surfactants: As used herein, non-chelating non-surfactant penetration enhancing compounds can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of oligonucleotides through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33). This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo-alkanone derivatives (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92); and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1987, 39, 621-626).

[0121] Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofectin (Junichi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al., PCT Application WO 97/30731), are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.

[0122] Other agents may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2-pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone.

[0123] Carriers

[0124] Certain compositions of the present invention also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation. As used herein, “carrier compound” or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation. The coadministration of a nucleic acid and a carrier compound, typically with an excess of the latter substance, can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor. For example, the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido-4′isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (Miyao et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al., Antisense & Nucl. Acid Drug Dev., 1996, 6, 177-183).

[0125] Excipients

[0126] In contrast to a carrier compound, a “pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal. The excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.).

[0127] Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipient suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0128] Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases. The solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives. Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.

[0129] Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0130] Other Components

[0131] The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions of the present invention. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

[0132] Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0133] Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more antisense compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed. 1987, pp. 1206-1228, Berkow et al., eds., Rahway, N.J. When used with the compounds of the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N.J., pages 2499-2506 and 46-49, respectively). Other non-antisense chemotherapeutic agents are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0134] In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0135] The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

[0136] While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Nucleoside Phosphoramidites for Oligonucleotide Synthesis Deoxy and 2′-Alkoxy Amidites

[0137] 2′-Deoxy and 2′-methoxy beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial sources (e.g. Chemgenes, Needham Mass. or Glen Research, Inc. Sterling Va.). Other 2′-O-alkoxy substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,351, herein incorporated by reference. For oligonucleotides synthesized using 2′-alkoxy amidites, the standard cycle for unmodified oligonucleotides was utilized, except the wait step after pulse delivery of tetrazole and base was increased to 360 seconds.

[0138] Oligonucleotides containing 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Me-C) nucleotides were synthesized according to published methods [Sanghvi, et. al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1993, 21, 3197-3203] using commercially available phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling Va. or ChemGenes, Needham Mass.).

[0139] 2′-Fluoro amidites

[0140] 2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine amidites

[0141] 2′-fluoro oligonucleotides were synthesized as described previously [Kawasaki, et. al., J. Med. Chem., 1993, 36, 831-841] and U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,633, herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the protected nucleoside N6-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroadenosine was synthesized utilizing commercially available 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine as starting material and by modifying literature procedures whereby the 2′-alpha-fluoro atom is introduced by a S_(N)2-displacement of a 2′-beta-trityl group. Thus N6-benzoyl-9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine was selectively protected in moderate yield as the 3′,5′-ditetrahydropyranyl (THP) intermediate. Deprotection of the THP and N6-benzoyl groups was accomplished using standard methodologies and standard methods were used to obtain the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-(DMT) and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidite intermediates.

[0142] 2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine

[0143] The synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanosine was accomplished using tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl (TPDS) protected 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine as starting material, and conversion to the intermediate diisobutyryl-arabinofuranosylguanosine. Deprotection of the TPDS group was followed by protection of the hydroxyl group with THP to give diisobutyryl di-THP protected arabinofuranosylguanine. Selective O-deacylation and triflation was followed by treatment of the crude product with fluoride, then deprotection of the THP groups. Standard methodologies were used to obtain the 5′-DMT- and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidites.

[0144] 2′-Fluorouridine

[0145] Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine was accomplished by the modification of a literature procedure in which 2,2′-anhydro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil was treated with 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0146] 2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine

[0147] 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine was synthesized via amination of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine, followed by selective protection to give N4-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0148] 2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) modified amidites

[0149] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows, or alternatively, as per the methods of Martin, P., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504.

[0150] 2,2′-Anhydro[1-(beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-methyluridine]

[0151] 5-Methyluridine (ribosylthymine, commercially available through Yamasa, Choshi, Japan) (72.0 g, 0.279 M), diphenyl-carbonate (90.0 g, 0.420 M) and sodium bicarbonate (2.0 g, 0.024 M) were added to DMF (300 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux, with stirring, allowing the evolved carbon dioxide gas to be released in a controlled manner. After 1 hour, the slightly darkened solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting syrup was poured into diethylether (2.5 L), with stirring. The product formed a gum. The ether was decanted and the residue was dissolved in a minimum amount of methanol (ca. 400 mL). The solution was poured into fresh ether (2.5 L) to yield a stiff gum. The ether was decanted and the gum was dried in a vacuum oven (60° C. at 1 mm Hg for 24 h) to give a solid that was crushed to a light tan powder (57 g, 85% crude yield). The NMR spectrum was consistent with the structure, contaminated with phenol as its sodium salt (ca. 5%). The material was used as is for further reactions (or it can be purified further by column chromatography using a gradient of methanol in ethyl acetate (10-25%) to give a white solid, mp 222-4° C.).

[0152] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine

[0153] 2,2′-Anhydro-5-methyluridine (195 g, 0.81 M), tris(2-methoxyethyl)borate (231 g, 0.98 M) and 2-methoxyethanol (1.2 L) were added to a 2 L stainless steel pressure vessel and placed in a pre-heated oil bath at 160° C. After heating for 48 hours at 155-160° C., the vessel was opened and the solution evaporated to dryness and triturated with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was suspended in hot acetone (1 L). The insoluble salts were filtered, washed with acetone (150 mL) and the filtrate evaporated. The residue (280 g) was dissolved in CH₃CN (600 mL) and evaporated. A silica gel column (3 kg) was packed in CH₂Cl₂/acetone/MeOH (20:5:3) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (250 mL) and adsorbed onto silica (150 g) prior to loading onto the column. The product was eluted with the packing solvent to give 160 g (63%) of product. Additional material was obtained by reworking impure fractions.

[0154] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0155] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine (160 g, 0.506 M) was co-evaporated with pyridine (250 mL) and the dried residue dissolved in pyridine (1.3 L). A first aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for one hour. A second aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the reaction stirred for an additional one hour. Methanol (170 mL) was then added to stop the reaction. HPLC showed the presence of approximately 70% product. The solvent was evaporated and triturated with CH₃CN (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (1.5 L) and extracted with 2×500 mL of saturated NaHCO₃ and 2×500 mL of saturated NaCl. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. 275 g of residue was obtained. The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column, packed and eluted with EtOAc/hexane/acetone (5:5:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The pure fractions were evaporated to give 164 g of product. Approximately 20 g additional was obtained from the impure fractions to give a total yield of 183 g (57%).

[0156] 3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0157] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (106 g, 0.167 M), DMF/pyridine (750 mL of a 3:1 mixture prepared from 562 mL of DMF and 188 mL of pyridine) and acetic anhydride (24.38 mL, 0.258 M) were combined and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction was monitored by TLC by first quenching the TLC sample with the addition of MeOH. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC, MeOH (50 mL) was added and the mixture evaporated at 35° C. The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (800 mL) and extracted with 2×200 mL of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 2×200 mL of saturated NaCl. The water layers were back extracted with 200 mL of CHCl₃. The combined organics were dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 122 g of residue (approx. 90% product). The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column and eluted using EtOAc/hexane(4:1). Pure product fractions were evaporated to yield 96 g (84%). An additional 1.5 g was recovered from later fractions.

[0158] 3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine

[0159] A first solution was prepared by dissolving 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (96 g, 0.144 M) in CH₃CN (700 mL) and set aside. Triethylamine (189 mL, 1.44 M) was added to a solution of triazole (90 g, 1.3 M) in CH₃CN (1 L), cooled to −5° C. and stirred for 0.5 h using an overhead stirrer. POCl₃ was added dropwise, over a 30 minute period, to the stirred solution maintained at 0-10° C., and the resulting mixture stirred for an additional 2 hours. The first solution was added dropwise, over a 45 minute period, to the latter solution. The resulting reaction mixture was stored overnight in a cold room. Salts were filtered from the reaction mixture and the solution was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (1 L) and the insoluble solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with 1×300 mL of NaHCO₃ and 2×300 mL of saturated NaCl, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc to give the title compound.

[0160] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0161] A solution of 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine (103 g, 0.141 M) in dioxane (500 mL) and NH₄OH (30 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The dioxane solution was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (2×200 mL). The residue was dissolved in MeOH (300 mL) and transferred to a 2 liter stainless steel pressure vessel. MeOH (400 mL) saturated with NH₃ gas was added and the vessel heated to 100° C. for 2 hours (TLC showed complete conversion). The vessel contents were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed once with saturated NaCl (200 mL). The organics were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to give 85 g (95%) of the title compound.

[0162] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0163] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (85 g, 0.134 M) was dissolved in DMF (800 mL) and benzoic anhydride (37.2 g, 0.165 M) was added with stirring. After stirring for 3 hours, TLC showed the reaction to be approximately 95% complete. The solvent was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (700 mL) and extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (2×300 mL), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to give a residue (96 g). The residue was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (1:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH as the eluting solvent. The pure product fractions were evaporated to give 90 g (90%) of the title compound.

[0164] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine-3′-amidite

[0165] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (74 g, 0.10 M) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L). Tetrazole diisopropylamine (7.1 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-tetra-(isopropyl)phosphite (40.5 mL, 0.123 M) were added with stirring, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature (TLC showed the reaction to be 95% complete). The reaction mixture was extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (1×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (3×300 mL). The aqueous washes were back-extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL), and the extracts were combined, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The residue obtained was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (3:1) as the eluting solvent. The pure fractions were combined to give 90.6 g (87%) of the title compound.

[0166] 2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites

[0167] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0168] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and guanosine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly to the thymidine (5-methyluridine) except the exocyclic amines are protected with a benzoyl moiety in the case of adenosine and cytidine and with isobutyryl in the case of guanosine.

[0169] 51′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine

[0170] O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (Pro. Bio. Sint., Varese, Italy, 100.0 g, 0.416 mmol), dimethylaminopyridine (0.66 g, 0.013 eq, 0.0054 mmol) were dissolved in dry pyridine (500 ml) at ambient temperature under an argon atmosphere and with mechanical stirring. tert-Butyldiphenylchlorosilane (125.8 g, 119.0 mL, 1.1 eq, 0.458 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. TLC (Rf 0.22, ethyl acetate) indicated a complete reaction. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. This was partitioned between dichloromethane (1 L) and saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×1 L) and brine (1 L). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. The oil was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of ethyl acetate and ethyl ether (600 mL) and the solution was cooled to −10° C. The resulting crystalline product was collected by filtration, washed with ethyl ether (3×200 mL) and dried (40° C., 1 mm Hg, 24 h) to 149 g (74.8%) of white solid. TLC and NMR were consistent with pure product.

[0171] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0172] In a 2 L stainless steel, unstirred pressure reactor was added borane in tetrahydrofuran (1.0 M, 2.0 eq, 622 mL). In the fume hood and with manual stirring, ethylene glycol (350 mL, excess) was added cautiously at first until the evolution of hydrogen gas subsided. 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (149 g, 0.311 mol) and sodium bicarbonate (0.074 g, 0.003 eq) were added with manual stirring. The reactor was sealed and heated in an oil bath until an internal temperature of 160° C. was reached and then maintained for 16 h (pressure<100 psig). The reaction vessel was cooled to ambient and opened. TLC (Rf 0.67 for desired product and Rf 0.82 for ara-T side product, ethyl acetate) indicated about 70% conversion to the product. In order to avoid additional side product formation, the reaction was stopped, concentrated under reduced pressure (10 to 1 mm Hg) in a warm water bath (40-100° C.) with the more extreme conditions used to remove the ethylene glycol. [Alternatively, once the low boiling solvent is gone, the remaining solution can be partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The product will be in the organic phase.] The residue was purified by column chromatography (2 kg silica gel, ethyl acetate-hexanes gradient 1:1 to 4:1). The appropriate fractions were combined, stripped and dried to product as a white crisp foam (84 g, 50%), contaminated starting material (17.4 g) and pure reusable starting material 20 g. The yield based on starting material less pure recovered starting material was 58%. TLC and NMR were consistent with 99% pure product.

[0173] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine

[0174] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (20 g, 36.98 mmol) was mixed with triphenylphosphine (11.63 g, 44.36 mmol) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (7.24 g, 44.36 mmol). It was then dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum for two days at 40° C. The reaction mixture was flushed with argon and dry THF (369.8 mL, Aldrich, sure seal bottle) was added to get a clear solution. Diethyl-azodicarboxylate (6.98 mL, 44.36 mmol) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The rate of addition is maintained such that resulting deep red coloration is just discharged before adding the next drop. After the addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for 4 hrs. By that time TLC showed the completion of the reaction (ethylacetate:hexane, 60:40). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. Residue obtained was placed on a flash column and eluted with ethyl acetate:hexane (60:40), to get 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine as white foam (21.819 g, 86%).

[0175] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0176] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine (3.1 g, 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry CH₂Cl₂ (4.5 mL) and methylhydrazine (300 mL, 4.64 mmol) was added dropwise at −10° C. to 0° C. After 1 h the mixture was filtered, the filtrate was washed with ice cold CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organic phase was washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solution was concentrated to get 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) thymidine, which was then dissolved in MeOH (67.5 mL). To this formaldehyde (20% aqueous solution, w/w, 1.1 eq.) was added and the resulting mixture was strirred for 1 h. Solvent was removed under vacuum; residue chromatographed to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine as white foam (1.95 g, 78%).

[0177] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0178] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.77 g, 3.12 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of 1M pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) in dry MeOH (30.6 mL). Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added to this solution at 10° C. under inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 10° C. After that the reaction vessel was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 h, the reaction monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (5%, 10 mL) was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). Ethyl acetate phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, evaporated to dryness. Residue was dissolved in a solution of 1M PPTS in MeOH (30.6 mL). Formaldehyde (20% w/w, 30 mL, 3.37 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Reaction mixture cooled to 10° C. in an ice bath, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added and reaction mixture stirred at 10° C. for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. To the reaction mixture 5% NaHCO₃ (25 mL) solution was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained was purified by flash column chromatography and eluted with 5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine as a white foam (14.6 g, 80%).

[0179] 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0180] Triethylamine trihydrofluoride (3.91 mL, 24.0 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF and triethylamine (1.67 mL, 12 mmol, dry, kept over KOH). This mixture of triethylamine-2HF was then added to 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.40 g, 2.4 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Reaction was monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue placed on a flash column and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (766 mg, 92.5%).

[0181] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0182] 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (750 mg, 2.17 mmol) was dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. It was then co-evaporated with anhydrous pyridine (20 mL). The residue obtained was dissolved in pyridine (11 mL) under argon atmosphere. 4-dimethylaminopyridine (26.5 mg, 2.60 mmol), 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (880 mg, 2.60 mmol) was added to the mixture and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature until all of the starting material disappeared. Pyridine was removed under vacuum and the residue chromatographed and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ (containing a few drops of pyridine) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylamino-oxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.13 g, 80%).

[0183] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

[0184] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.08 g, 1.67 mmol) was co-evaporated with toluene (20 mL). To the residue N,N-diisopropylamine tetrazonide (0.29 g, 1.67 mmol) was added and dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. Then the reaction mixture was dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (8.4 mL) and 2-cyanoethyl-N,N,N¹,N¹-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (2.12 mL, 6.08 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 hrs under inert atmosphere. The progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate 1:1). The solvent was evaporated, then the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (70 mL) and washed with 5% aqueous NaHCO₃ (40 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. Residue obtained was chromatographed (ethyl acetate as eluent) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite] as a foam (1.04 g, 74.9%).

[0185] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0186] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and thymidine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0187] N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

[0188] The 2′-O-aminooxyethyl guanosine analog may be obtained by selective 2′-O-alkylation of diaminopurine riboside. Multigram quantities of diaminopurine riboside may be purchased from Schering AG (Berlin) to provide 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside along with a minor amount of the 3′-O-isomer. 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside may be resolved and converted to 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)guanosine by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (McGee, D. P. C., Cook, P. D., Guinosso, C. J., WO 94/02501 A1 940203.) Standard protection procedures should afford 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine and 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine which may be reduced to provide 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine. As before the hydroxyl group may be displaced by N-hydroxyphthalimide via a Mitsunobu reaction, and the protected nucleoside may phosphitylated as usual to yield 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-([2-phthalmidoxy]ethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite].

[0189] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites

[0190] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy nucleoside amidites (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl, i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, or 2′-DMAEOE nucleoside amidites) are prepared as follows. Other nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0191] 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine

[0192] 2[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol (Aldrich, 6.66 g, 50 mmol) is slowly added to a solution of borane in tetra-hydrofuran (1 M, 10 mL, 10 mmol) with stirring in a 100 mL bomb. Hydrogen gas evolves as the solid dissolves. O²-,2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (1.2 g, 5 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (2.5 mg) are added and the bomb is sealed, placed in an oil bath and heated to 155° C. for 26 hours. The bomb is cooled to room temperature and opened. The crude solution is concentrated and the residue partitioned between water (200 mL) and hexanes (200 mL). The excess phenol is extracted into the hexane layer. The aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 mL) and the combined organic layers are washed once with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is columned on silica gel using methanol/methylene chloride 1:20 (which has 2% triethylamine) as the eluent. As the column fractions are concentrated a colorless solid forms which is collected to give the title compound as a white solid.

[0193] 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine

[0194] To 0.5 g (1.3 mmol) of 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine in anhydrous pyridine (8 mL), triethylamine (0.36 mL) and dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMT-Cl, 0.87 g, 2 eq.) are added and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is poured into water (200 mL) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×200 mL). The combined CH₂Cl₂ layers are washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, followed by saturated NaCl solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent followed by silica gel chromatography using MeOH:CH₂Cl₂:Et₃N (20:1, v/v, with 1% triethylamine) gives the title compound.

[0195] 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite

[0196] Diisopropylaminotetrazolide (0.6 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite (1.1 mL, 2 eq.) are added to a solution of 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyluridine (2.17 g, 3 mmol) dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) under an atmosphere of argon. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight and the solvent evaporated. The resulting residue is purified by silica gel flash column chromatography with ethyl acetate as the eluent to give the title compound.

Example 2 Oligonucleotide Synthesis

[0197] Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 380B) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

[0198] Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized as for the phosphodiester oligonucleotides except the standard oxidation bottle was replaced by 0.2 M solution of 3H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide in acetonitrile for the stepwise thiation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation wait step was increased to 68 sec and was followed by the capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (18 h), the oligonucleotides were purified by precipitating twice with 2.5 volumes of ethanol from a 0.5 M NaCl solution.

[0199] Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

[0200] Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference.

[0201] 3′-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

[0202] Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

[0203] Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

[0204] 3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

[0205] Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

[0206] Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3 Oligonucleoside Synthesis

[0207] Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethylhydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligonucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0208] Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

[0209] Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 4 PNA Synthesis

[0210] Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are prepared in accordance with any of the various procedures referred to in Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA): Synthesis, Properties and Potential Applications, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 1996, 4, 5-23. They may also be prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082, 5,700,922, and 5,719,262, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5 Synthesis of Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0211] Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[0212] [2′-O-Me]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-Me] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0213] Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 380B, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphor-amidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by increasing the wait step after the delivery of tetrazole and base to 600 s repeated four times for RNA and twice for 2′-O-methyl. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and the phosphate group is deprotected in 3:1 ammonia/ethanol at room temperature overnight then lyophilized to dryness. Treatment in methanolic ammonia for 24 hrs at room temperature is then done to deprotect all bases and sample was again lyophilized to dryness. The pellet is resuspended in 1M TBAF in THF for 24 hrs at room temperature to deprotect the 2′ positions. The reaction is then quenched with 1M TEAA and the sample is then reduced to ½ volume by rotovac before being desalted on a G25 size exclusion column. The oligo recovered is then analyzed spectrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[0214] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0215] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[-2′-O-(methoxy-ethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[0216] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0217] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(methoxyethyl) phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidization with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

[0218] Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 6 Oligonucleotide Isolation

[0219] After cleavage from the controlled pore glass column (Applied Biosystems) and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 18 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are purified by precipitation twice out of 0.5 M NaCl with 2.5 volumes ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing gels and judged to be at least 85% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in synthesis were periodically checked by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and for some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7 Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

[0220] Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a standard 96 well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per known literature or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

[0221] Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH₄OH at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8 Oligonucleotide Analysis—96 Well Plate Format

[0222] The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96 well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9 Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

[0223] The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following 4 cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

[0224] T-24 Cells:

[0225] The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy′s 5A basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

[0226] For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

[0227] A549 Cells:

[0228] The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

[0229] NHDF Cells:

[0230] Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0231] HEK Cells:

[0232] Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0233] Treatment with Antisense Compounds:

[0234] When cells reached 80% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Gibco BRL) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. After 4-7 hours of treatment, the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

[0235] The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 13920, TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to human H-ras. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 2, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-Ha-ras (for ISIS 13920) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of H-ras or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments.

Example 10 Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of Protein Kinase R Expression

[0236] Antisense modulation of Protein Kinase R expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, Protein Kinase R mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.1.1-4.2.9 and 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Northern blot analysis is routine in the art and is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.2.1-4.2.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions.

[0237] Protein levels of Protein Kinase R can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), ELISA or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to Protein Kinase R can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, Mich.), or can be prepared via conventional antibody generation methods. Methods for preparation of polyclonal antisera are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.12.1-11.12.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Preparation of monoclonal antibodies is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.4.1-11.11.5, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

[0238] Immunoprecipitation methods are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.16.1-10.16.11, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis is standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.8.1-10.8.21, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.2.1-11.2.22, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.

Example 11 Poly(A)+ mRNA Isolation

[0239] Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764. Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C. was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

[0240] Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

Example 12 Total RNA Isolation

[0241] Total RNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 100 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 100 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum again applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 15 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 10 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 60 μL water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 30 seconds. The elution step was repeated with an additional 60 μL water.

[0242] The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13 Real-time Quantitative PCR Analysis of Protein Kinase R mRNA Levels

[0243] Quantitation of Protein Kinase R mRNA levels was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR, in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., JOE, FAM, or VIC, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

[0244] Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

[0245] PCR reagents were obtained from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.. RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 25 μL PCR cocktail (1×TAQMAN™ buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl₂, 300 μM each of DATP, dCTP and dGTP, 600 μM of dUTP, 100 nM each of forward primer, reverse primer, and probe, 20 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units AMPLITAQ GOLD™, and 12.5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase) to 96 well plates containing 25 μL total RNA solution. The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the AMPLITAQ GOLD™, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

[0246] Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreen™ (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreen™ RNA quantification reagent from Molecular Probes. Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreen™ are taught in Jones, L. J., et al, Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374.

[0247] In this assay, 175 μL of RiboGreen™ working reagent (RiboGreen™ reagent diluted 1:2865 in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 25 uL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 480 nm and emission at 520 nm.

[0248] Probes and primers to human Protein Kinase R were designed to hybridize to a human Protein Kinase R sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number NM_(—)002759, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3). For human Protein Kinase R the PCR primers were: forward primer: CAGAATTGACGGAAAGACTTACGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 4) reverse primer: CATGATCAAGTTTTGCCAATGC (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the PCR probe was: FAM-CGCTCCGCCTTCTCGTTATTATATTTAACACG-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 6) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye. For human GAPDH the PCR primers were:

[0249] forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 7)

[0250] reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO: 8) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCC-TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye.

Example 14 Northern Blot Analysis of Protein Kinase R mRNA Levels

[0251] Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOL™ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then probed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

[0252] To detect human Protein Kinase R, a human Protein Kinase R specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer CAGAATTGACGGAAAGACTTACGTTA (SEQ ID NO: 4) and the reverse primer CATGATCAAGTTTTGCCAATGC (SEQ ID NO: 5). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0253] Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15 Antisense Inhibition of Human Protein Kinase R Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

[0254] In accordance with the present invention, a series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the human Protein Kinase R RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number NM_(—)002759, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3, residues 33001-86000 from GenBank accession number AC007899, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10, GenBank accession number AW468555, representing an EST suggesting an mRNA variant that extends from the 3′ end of exon 3 into intron 3, the complement of which is incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11, GenBank accession number AI417032, an EST suggesting an mRNA variant that extends from the 3′ end of exon 2 into intron 2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 12, and GenBank accession number AW149070, representing an extension 3′ from the end of SEQ ID NO: 3, the complement of which is incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 13). The oligonucleotides are shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on human Protein Kinase R mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. TABLE 1 Inhibition of human Protein Kinase R mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TAR- GET SEQ TAR- % SEQ ID GET IN- ID ISIS # REGION NO SITE SEQUENCE HIB NO 139382 5′UTR 3 51 caagtgtggagctgaatgcc 40 14 139383 5′UTR 3 63 ctgtggttctaccaagtgtg 59 15 139384 5′UTR 3 68 cgtgcctgtggttctaccaa 32 16 139385 5′UTR 3 79 tctatgcttgtcgtgcctgt 65 17 139386 5′UTR 3 115 gacctcgatgcctcgatgaa 42 18 139387 5′UTR 3 151 tatgatagccagggtctcct 22 19 139388 5′UTR 3 169 ccagcgaagactaaggtcta 50 20 139389 5′UTR 3 172 ataccagcgaagactaaggt 70 21 139390 5′UTR 3 243 gctccagaaactggtaaaag 0 22 139391 5′UTR 3 269 caaatccaggaaggcaaact 12 23 139392 5′UTR 3 330 cagagaagcaaacctgagtc 62 24 139393 5′UTR 3 380 aaatgcacgcagataatcac 0 25 139394 5′UTR 3 384 tccaaaatgcacgcagataa 15 26 139395 5′UTR 3 410 ttcccgtatcctggttggaa 55 27 139396 Start 3 428 atcaccagccatttcttctt 10 28 Codon 139397 Coding 3 507 gcagttcttgatatttaagt 12 29 139398 Coding 3 521 aggtcctgaattaggcagtt 7 30 139399 Coding 3 553 ataacttgaaatgtaaacct 17 31 139400 Coding 3 559 tctattataacttgaaatgt 22 32 139401 Coding 3 586 ccttcaccttctggaaattc 50 33 139402 Coding 3 593 tgatctaccttcaccttctg 43 34 139403 Coding 3 629 agctaatttggctgcggcat 52 35 139404 Coding 3 634 tcaacagctaatttggctgc 0 36 139405 Coding 3 691 gaattcgttgttgtcaataa 37 37 139406 Coding 3 706 gataatccttctgaagaatt 47 38 139407 Coding 3 779 acactgttcataatttacag 48 39 139408 Coding 3 815 ataatgaaatccttctggcc 62 40 139409 Coding 3 856 cctgtaccaatactatattc 49 41 139410 Coding 3 864 tagtagaacctgtaccaata 45 42 139411 Coding 3 870 cctgtttagtagaacctgta 0 43 139412 Coding 3 875 tgcttcctgtttagtagaac 42 44 139413 Coding 3 995 taaagagttgctttgggact 35 45 139414 Coding 3 1019 ttcagaagcgagtgtgctgg 74 46 139415 Coding 3 1033 ccttcagatgatgattcaga 42 47 139416 Coding 3 1076 gtcactgttagaatttatct 72 48 139417 Coding 3 1090 gaactgtttaaactgtcact 66 49 139418 Coding 3 1148 tgccaaagatctttttgcct 23 50 139419 Coding 3 1177 tctttcatgtcaggaaggtc 67 51 139420 Coding 3 1261 aaaacttggccaaatccacc 1 52 139421 Coding 3 1269 ttgctttgaaaacttggcca 79 53 139422 Coding 3 1276 ctgtgttttgctttgaaaac 29 54 139423 Coding 3 1305 gtttaataacgtaagtcttt 69 55 139424 Coding 3 1334 ctccgccttctcgttattat 33 56 139425 Coding 3 1529 tttatcacagaattccattt 24 57 139426 Coding 3 1543 tgttccaaggtccctttatc 11 58 139427 Coding 3 1660 agatctctatgaattaattt 29 59 139428 Coding 3 1674 tattacttggcttaagatct 56 60 139429 Coding 3 1685 tactaagaatatattacttg 20 61 139430 Coding 3 1803 gcgaagaaatctgttctggg 8 62 139431 Coding 3 1822 acttcctttccatagtcttg 45 63 139432 Coding 3 1847 aattagccccaaagcgtaga 36 64 139433 Coding 3 1891 gatgtttcaaaagcagtgtc 0 65 139434 Coding 3 1897 aactttgatgtttcaaaagc 11 66 139435 Coding 3 1905 ctgtgaaaaactttgatgtt 48 67 139436 Coding 3 1973 gagtaatttctgtagaagag 34 68 139437 Coding 3 1976 tgagagtaatttctgtagaa 25 69 139438 Coding 3 2042 gcttttcttccacacagtca 23 70 139439 Stop 3 2080 gaagggctctaacatgtgtg 68 71 Codon 139440 3′UTR 3 2092 gatactttttcagaagggct 78 72 139441 3′UTR 3 2162 aaggtaaatatctattgata 39 73 139442 3′UTR 3 2220 ctgtttctgcagaaagatta 21 74 139443 3′UTR 3 2251 atgtttttgaagcaaaaaga 0 75 139444 3′UTR 3 2651 ttgattcattaatagtataa 0 76 139445 3′UTR 3 2684 gcggtagaaatttaataaat 9 77 139446 3′UTR 3 2743 ccagctggcttgtaagctat 46 78 139447 3′UTR 3 2764 tttaatgagtaccatatttc 60 79 139448 Intron 10 8938 tatgagcaaactgaaattga 50 80 2 139449 Intron 10 9384 attgacttagatgatgccac 34 81 3 139450 Intron 10 22626 gttgaatgtaaaactcaaat 2 82 10 139451 Intron 10 23227 cttggattgggagcaggcag 0 83 11 139452 Intron 10 27862 aactcctgacctcaggtgat 14 84 11 139453 Intron 10 28126 ctcaagtccatcatctccca 12 85 11 139454 mRNA 11 233 ttgtccttgcgatagtttgc 57 86 variant 139455 mRNA 11 304 ccttcctgtgtccatgtgtt 30 87 variant 139456 mRNA 11 402 tgcacccattaactcgtcat 17 88 variant 139457 mRNA 12 333 tctgggaacaatacaatttg 1 89 variant 139458 mRNA 12 443 caaatgagtgccataaaacc 0 90 variant 139459 3′UTR 13 410 aatgccaaattgttttccga 43 91

[0255] As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 53, 55, 56, 60, 63, 64, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 78, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87 and 91 demonstrated at least 30% inhibition of human Protein Kinase R expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting by compounds of the present invention.

Example 16 Western Blot Analysis of Protein Kinase R Protein Levels

[0256] Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) is carried out using standard methods. Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting. Appropriate primary antibody directed to Protein Kinase R is used, with a radiolabelled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

1 91 1 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 1 tccgtcatcg ctcctcaggg 20 2 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 2 atgcattctg cccccaagga 20 3 2808 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (436)...(2091) 3 gcggcggcgg cggcgcagtt tgctcatact ttgtgacttg cggtcacagt ggcattcagc 60 tccacacttg gtagaaccac aggcacgaca agcatagaaa catcctaaac aatcttcatc 120 gaggcatcga ggtccatccc aataaaaatc aggagaccct ggctatcata gaccttagtc 180 ttcgctggta tactcgctgt ctgtcaacca gcggttgact ttttttaagc cttctttttt 240 ctcttttacc agtttctgga gcaaattcag tttgccttcc tggatttgta aattgtaatg 300 acctcaaaac tttagcagtt cttccatctg actcaggttt gcttctctgg cggtcttcag 360 aatcaacatc cacacttccg tgattatctg cgtgcatttt ggacaaagct tccaaccagg 420 atacgggaag aagaa atg gct ggt gat ctt tca gca ggt ttc ttc atg gag 471 Met Ala Gly Asp Leu Ser Ala Gly Phe Phe Met Glu 1 5 10 gaa ctt aat aca tac cgt cag aag cag gga gta gta ctt aaa tat caa 519 Glu Leu Asn Thr Tyr Arg Gln Lys Gln Gly Val Val Leu Lys Tyr Gln 15 20 25 gaa ctg cct aat tca gga cct cca cat gat agg agg ttt aca ttt caa 567 Glu Leu Pro Asn Ser Gly Pro Pro His Asp Arg Arg Phe Thr Phe Gln 30 35 40 gtt ata ata gat gga aga gaa ttt cca gaa ggt gaa ggt aga tca aag 615 Val Ile Ile Asp Gly Arg Glu Phe Pro Glu Gly Glu Gly Arg Ser Lys 45 50 55 60 aag gaa gca aaa aat gcc gca gcc aaa tta gct gtt gag ata ctt aat 663 Lys Glu Ala Lys Asn Ala Ala Ala Lys Leu Ala Val Glu Ile Leu Asn 65 70 75 aag gaa aag aag gca gtt agt cct tta tta ttg aca aca acg aat tct 711 Lys Glu Lys Lys Ala Val Ser Pro Leu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Asn Ser 80 85 90 tca gaa gga tta tcc atg ggg aat tac ata ggc ctt atc aat aga att 759 Ser Glu Gly Leu Ser Met Gly Asn Tyr Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Arg Ile 95 100 105 gcc cag aag aaa aga cta act gta aat tat gaa cag tgt gca tcg ggg 807 Ala Gln Lys Lys Arg Leu Thr Val Asn Tyr Glu Gln Cys Ala Ser Gly 110 115 120 gtg cat ggg cca gaa gga ttt cat tat aaa tgc aaa atg gga cag aaa 855 Val His Gly Pro Glu Gly Phe His Tyr Lys Cys Lys Met Gly Gln Lys 125 130 135 140 gaa tat agt att ggt aca ggt tct act aaa cag gaa gca aaa caa ttg 903 Glu Tyr Ser Ile Gly Thr Gly Ser Thr Lys Gln Glu Ala Lys Gln Leu 145 150 155 gcc gct aaa ctt gca tat ctt cag ata tta tca gaa gaa acc tca gtg 951 Ala Ala Lys Leu Ala Tyr Leu Gln Ile Leu Ser Glu Glu Thr Ser Val 160 165 170 aaa tct gac tac ctg tcc tct ggt tct ttt gct act acg tgt gag tcc 999 Lys Ser Asp Tyr Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Phe Ala Thr Thr Cys Glu Ser 175 180 185 caa agc aac tct tta gtg acc agc aca ctc gct tct gaa tca tca tct 1047 Gln Ser Asn Ser Leu Val Thr Ser Thr Leu Ala Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser 190 195 200 gaa ggt gac ttc tca gca gat aca tca gag ata aat tct aac agt gac 1095 Glu Gly Asp Phe Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser Glu Ile Asn Ser Asn Ser Asp 205 210 215 220 agt tta aac agt tct tcg ttg ctt atg aat ggt ctc aga aat aat caa 1143 Ser Leu Asn Ser Ser Ser Leu Leu Met Asn Gly Leu Arg Asn Asn Gln 225 230 235 agg aag gca aaa aga tct ttg gca ccc aga ttt gac ctt cct gac atg 1191 Arg Lys Ala Lys Arg Ser Leu Ala Pro Arg Phe Asp Leu Pro Asp Met 240 245 250 aaa gaa aca aag tat act gtg gac aag agg ttt ggc atg gat ttt aaa 1239 Lys Glu Thr Lys Tyr Thr Val Asp Lys Arg Phe Gly Met Asp Phe Lys 255 260 265 gaa ata gaa tta att ggc tca ggt gga ttt ggc caa gtt ttc aaa gca 1287 Glu Ile Glu Leu Ile Gly Ser Gly Gly Phe Gly Gln Val Phe Lys Ala 270 275 280 aaa cac aga att gac gga aag act tac gtt att aaa cgt gtt aaa tat 1335 Lys His Arg Ile Asp Gly Lys Thr Tyr Val Ile Lys Arg Val Lys Tyr 285 290 295 300 aat aac gag aag gcg gag cgt gaa gta aaa gca ttg gca aaa ctt gat 1383 Asn Asn Glu Lys Ala Glu Arg Glu Val Lys Ala Leu Ala Lys Leu Asp 305 310 315 cat gta aat att gtt cac tac aat ggc tgt tgg gat gga ttt gat tat 1431 His Val Asn Ile Val His Tyr Asn Gly Cys Trp Asp Gly Phe Asp Tyr 320 325 330 gat cct gag acc agt gat gat tct ctt gag agc agt gat tat gat cct 1479 Asp Pro Glu Thr Ser Asp Asp Ser Leu Glu Ser Ser Asp Tyr Asp Pro 335 340 345 gag aac agc aaa aat agt tca agg tca aag act aag tgc ctt ttc atc 1527 Glu Asn Ser Lys Asn Ser Ser Arg Ser Lys Thr Lys Cys Leu Phe Ile 350 355 360 caa atg gaa ttc tgt gat aaa ggg acc ttg gaa caa tgg att gaa aaa 1575 Gln Met Glu Phe Cys Asp Lys Gly Thr Leu Glu Gln Trp Ile Glu Lys 365 370 375 380 aga aga ggc gag aaa cta gac aaa gtt ttg gct ttg gaa ctc ttt gaa 1623 Arg Arg Gly Glu Lys Leu Asp Lys Val Leu Ala Leu Glu Leu Phe Glu 385 390 395 caa ata aca aaa ggg gtg gat tat ata cat tca aaa aaa tta att cat 1671 Gln Ile Thr Lys Gly Val Asp Tyr Ile His Ser Lys Lys Leu Ile His 400 405 410 aga gat ctt aag cca agt aat ata ttc tta gta gat aca aaa caa gta 1719 Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Phe Leu Val Asp Thr Lys Gln Val 415 420 425 aag att gga gac ttt gga ctt gta aca tct ctg aaa aat gat gga aag 1767 Lys Ile Gly Asp Phe Gly Leu Val Thr Ser Leu Lys Asn Asp Gly Lys 430 435 440 cga aca agg agt aag gga act ttg cga tac atg agc cca gaa cag att 1815 Arg Thr Arg Ser Lys Gly Thr Leu Arg Tyr Met Ser Pro Glu Gln Ile 445 450 455 460 tct tcg caa gac tat gga aag gaa gtg gac ctc tac gct ttg ggg cta 1863 Ser Ser Gln Asp Tyr Gly Lys Glu Val Asp Leu Tyr Ala Leu Gly Leu 465 470 475 att ctt gct gaa ctt ctt cat gta tgt gac act gct ttt gaa aca tca 1911 Ile Leu Ala Glu Leu Leu His Val Cys Asp Thr Ala Phe Glu Thr Ser 480 485 490 aag ttt ttc aca gac cta cgg gat ggc atc atc tca gat ata ttt gat 1959 Lys Phe Phe Thr Asp Leu Arg Asp Gly Ile Ile Ser Asp Ile Phe Asp 495 500 505 aaa aaa gaa aaa act ctt cta cag aaa tta ctc tca aag aaa cct gag 2007 Lys Lys Glu Lys Thr Leu Leu Gln Lys Leu Leu Ser Lys Lys Pro Glu 510 515 520 gat cga cct aac aca tct gaa ata cta agg acc ttg act gtg tgg aag 2055 Asp Arg Pro Asn Thr Ser Glu Ile Leu Arg Thr Leu Thr Val Trp Lys 525 530 535 540 aaa agc cca gag aaa aat gaa cga cac aca tgt tag agcccttctg 2101 Lys Ser Pro Glu Lys Asn Glu Arg His Thr Cys 545 550 aaaaagtatc ctgcttctga tatgcagttt tccttaaatt atctaaaatc tgctagggaa 2161 tatcaataga tatttacctt ttattttaat gtttccttta attttttact atttttacta 2221 atctttctgc agaaacagaa aggttttctt ctttttgctt caaaaacatt cttacatttt 2281 actttttcct ggctcatctc tttattcttt tttttttttt taaagacaga gtctcgctct 2341 gttgcccagg ctggagtgca atgacacagt cttggctcac tgcaacttct gcctcttggg 2401 ttcaagtgat tctcctgcct cagcctcctg agtagctgga ttacaggcat gtgccaccca 2461 cccaactaat ttttgtgttt ttaataaaga cagggtttca ccatgttggc caggctggtc 2521 tcaaactcct gacctcaagt aatccacctg cctcggcctc ccaaagtgct gggattacag 2581 ggatgagcca ccgcgcccag cctcatctct ttgttctaaa gatggaaaaa ccacccccaa 2641 attttctttt tatactatta atgaatcaat caattcatat ctatttatta aatttctacc 2701 gcttttaggc caaaaaaatg taagatcgtt ctctgcctca catagcttac aagccagctg 2761 gagaaatatg gtactcatta aaaaaaaaaa aaaagtgatg tacaacc 2808 4 26 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 4 cagaattgac ggaaagactt acgtta 26 5 22 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 catgatcaag ttttgccaat gc 22 6 32 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 6 cgctccgcct tctcgttatt atatttaaca cg 32 7 19 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 7 gaaggtgaag gtcggagtc 19 8 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 8 gaagatggtg atgggatttc 20 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 9 caagcttccc gttctcagcc 20 10 53000 DNA Homo sapiens intron (1)...(1217) Intron 1 10 tttttttttt tgaattggag tcccactctg tcacccaggc tggagtgtag tggcatgatc 60 tcagctcact acaatctctg cctcccaggt tcaagcaatt ctccctgcct cagcctctgg 120 agtagctggg attacaggtg cctgccacca cgcccagcta atttttgtgt tttttagtag 180 agacggggtt ttgccatgtt ggccaggctg gtcctgaact cctgacctca ggtgatccgc 240 ccgtctcagc ctcccaaatt tctgggatta caggcatgag ccaccgcgcc ggcctaggca 300 taatatttaa tgtatatttg aggtctgtct ttggaccacc ttcctctctt atcccagcta 360 agatactgag agtacaaact cctggttata attctaactc cgctgcttac tacctgtgtt 420 aatccaaatt ctctgtgcct caatactcat tagtcactgt gccaatgaac tctggaactc 480 tgtgtgactc tgggagtgtg tcgcagtcca tcaggtgagt agaatttcta taaatcgagg 540 actactggtg ttggactatg gtaggaagct ccctggggta ctgtaggaag caggtgtctc 600 tatttagcag caggactggc ccacaggtgc ttttacagcg gctggcaagt gtctgctcat 660 gaatgaatgg atgggtggga gcggagtgaa ggagattacg cccccaggcc tctgatcccc 720 aggcttgtaa aggtgagggg gccgcggtgt ggcaagaggg aaagagtgct ttggtgttta 780 caggccccga cttgaactga atcctggctt tgccacttac gagcggcagg acccctgggt 840 gagttcattt actcagtttc ctctattgta gaatggagct ggtaagatcc atcttcccaa 900 ccccacccca aatatttgtg ttgagagtaa gtggaaccct tgattcgaga acctagtgcg 960 gccagcggac taggccagcg gagaacccta ggagccccgg gggcggggga tgggggtgca 1020 gggtcctggc cgtgcagggg cagcacgtgg gtgccaagcc cgcctgccgg tgccaagccc 1080 gcccgccggt gccaagcccg cccgccagtg cctctcgcgc gcactctgga tccagcgcca 1140 atttacccca atcccgtagc agacgagggc ttgtgcgaga gggggccggg cggctgcagg 1200 gaaggcggag tccaagggga aaacgaaact gagaaccagc tctcccgaag ccgcgggtct 1260 ccggccggcg gcggcggcgg cggcggcggc ggcgcaggtg agcagggcag ggggcagccg 1320 agggagcgcg gggagcgggg gccggggggc cacgtacgag gggctgcagg cccagccggg 1380 gcgggactcg ccaatcctgc gtccccagct caggacgcgg acgctgatcc gaagcccctg 1440 gccccggctg ggtcagcact gggagagcag gcccaggtcc gcagcccggg tgtggggccc 1500 tccccaaatc cagggaaagg atcgtggagc ggggtgggga ctgaaagcca tttccttccc 1560 gtgaagaatt tttatcagtg caagtaacaa atatttccca ggcagcagtt gtggggcggg 1620 gtctagtgga agacgaatag gcctagtggc ttgacacatg gaaaatacgg aggcctgaaa 1680 tactcataga ctggctgaac aatctttggc taaaaatctc ttccgtggag agttgcagta 1740 gtttcccaat tgcctggccg cagttcctgt tcccactccg tatcctcacc cctgaacctc 1800 caccccctac ctcttctcca cacctcagca tctggaatgt tcctttaagt aagaaccaga 1860 ctctcccctg ctccgacctt ccccgtagct ttcctgtctc atcagaatcc tataaacatt 1920 tattaaggct cacaggcaag gcccctcgca ccccctactc cggccacgct ggcttccttg 1980 ctgttcctgg tgcacagcca agcatcctcc agcctctagg cctttgcact gcttgtttct 2040 tctttctgga aagcttcttc cccagataac tgcatgggga aatccctccc ttatcctgca 2100 ctgcttccca tgccagctta tcagagcagc cttcctcaaa caacctgcct atacaagaaa 2160 ccccgctctg cccttgctgt tcccccttcc actacttcgg ttgtcaacat agtagttatc 2220 acctggtgac attttctttc ttttcttttc tttttttttt tttttgagac agattctcac 2280 tctgtcgcca ggctggaatg cagtggcacg atctgggctc actgcaacct ctgcctctca 2340 ggttcaagcg attttccttc ctcagcctcc caggtagctg ggactacagg tgcccgccag 2400 cacagccaac taattttttt atttttagta gagacagggt ttcaccgtgt tggccaggct 2460 gtatgtagtc tgctggaaag gaagtggagg catagccaaa ataatttctg ggcattagta 2520 agatggacaa atattatttt ttagtgatta tgatggaggt ttcttccaga tgagtgaata 2580 agatgtagaa tctgctcccc aaagagctca ctaattagtt taaaaagcag tcagggctgt 2640 gttgaaggtt gggcaaggtg gagtggcaag cccatactag ctgaccctcc agcatcaaag 2700 aaggctgtgt tgatcctgat agatgagtgg atattggtgg gtacagagag aatgcagata 2760 ttgcactata aatgtagaga aaagcaggtg acaagtcctg gatggggtat ctggagatat 2820 tttggtactc actcattcat tattgagcct ggtcccttac ctgtagtaat tcatgctcta 2880 ttttggaaaa tagttaaata agcaatttta ataaagggga tgagcactgt ggaagagcct 2940 gtgaaggagt gtctgggatt ttgagctgaa atctgtagga agtagaaatt gaccaggcca 3000 agacagcaga aggaatagag tcaagggcat tttaggaggg agcaggttgg acagaggcag 3060 ttgggagttc aggagagagt ccatggtgga agcgtgcttt tgagaaccat cattgtgtcc 3120 gtggaattta aagccacaaa cctggaggtg atcaccaggg gagtgagtcc aagtagaaaa 3180 gagcaagtct aaggaccggg cccagtgatg ctagaatatc tagaaaagag gaagttagaa 3240 ccatagaaaa ggttaaaaaa aaaaaaatag aagaaaagaa gttgaagatg aaccaggaaa 3300 ggagacagaa aaggagtagc ttgtcagaac agaagaaaac caggcccagg tgccatggct 3360 catgcctgta atcgcagcac tttgggaggc caaggtgggt ggatcacctg aggtcaggag 3420 tttgagacca gcctggccaa catggggaaa ccccgtctct actaaaaata taaaaaatta 3480 gccgggcgtg gtggtgggcg cctgtaatcc cagctactcg gaatgctgag gcaggagaat 3540 cgcttgaacc cgggaggcag aggttgcagc gagccgagat gccaccatca cactccagcc 3600 tgggcaacaa gagcgaaact ctgtctcaaa agaagaaaac taggagagtg ggtgtcttaa 3660 aagtccaagc taagacaggg agaggagggc gaagaggatg cgcaacccca tcaaatgctg 3720 gttgtaagtc aagtagagaa ggactaagaa ctgactactg gatttagtga tagggaagcc 3780 attggtaacc tcgacaaaaa caatttcagt ggcttgtgga gactgcatga ttgaattgat 3840 gtttttttgt ttgtttgttt tgtttttgtt tttttttttg agacggagtt tcgctcttgt 3900 tgcccaggct ggagtgcaat ggcacgatct cagctcaccg caacctccac ctcctgggtt 3960 caagcgattc tccttcctca gcatcccgag tagctgggat tacaggcatg tgccaccacc 4020 ccggctaatt ttgtattttt agtagagatg gggtttctcc atgttggtca ggctggtctt 4080 gaagtcccga cctcaggtga tctgcccgcc ttggcctccc aaagtgctgg gattacaggt 4140 gtgagccacc gcgcctggcc actgaattga tgttttaaaa agatcatgat gtggctgtat 4200 taaaaaagaa aacagataat aacaagtgat ggtgaggatg tggagaaatt agaaccctcg 4260 tgcattgctg gtggaaatgt aacatgggtg taaccactgt ggaaaacaat ttggtgattc 4320 atcacaaagt taaacagaat tatcatgtga ttcaattcca cttatatacc acaaatattc 4380 agaagtaggg acttaaacag atatatgtat accagtgttc acagcagcat gattcaagat 4440 ggccaaaagg ttgaaataac cagtgtccat tcataaatga atgcatgaac aaaatatggt 4500 atatatacac aacggaatat tattcagcct taaaaaggaa aggaattctg acatatgcta 4560 caacatagat gaaccttgaa gacattttgc taagtgaaat aaccagacac aaaaggacaa 4620 atactgtttg attccactta tatgaggtac ctagaacagg caaatttaca gagacagaag 4680 agagattaga aaatataaaa aattaaccag gcatgcccac gcctatggtc ccagctactc 4740 gggaggctga ggtgggagga tcgcttgagc ccagagttca aggctgcagt aagctgtgat 4800 cacaccactg cactccagcc tgggcaacag agcgagaccc tgtctcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 4860 aaaaaaagat tagcagagac tgaaaggact gggaaatggg gagttactgt ttaatgggta 4920 cacactttct gtttggaaag attaagagtt gtggatgtgg atgtggtggc ggctacacaa 4980 cattgtgaat gtacttaaag gcagggaatt aatacattga aaaatagtac atttcatgtt 5040 atgtgtattt tatcacaatt ttaaaacata aaaaaaaaaa tcacaatggt tgcagggtag 5100 agaaggaatt gaagtagctg tcggaactgg ttctgagatt ctcacagcaa tccaggaatg 5160 aggtggtgtt ggcttgaact aggatggtaa gtgtagacat ctttgagaag tagaaagatt 5220 ttggtgacag gacttagtta tagattagaa ggcagggaga ggaaatgtca aggatgcctc 5280 ccagattgat ggctttcaga cttggataga tggtggactc atttcctgtg aaaggaaact 5340 tcaaaccagc ttgggagaag atcatacatg cagtacagga tattttgagt ttaaagttcg 5400 ttcaagatgt tcaagtggag aatttggata gagagatctg aaactcagag cggttcataa 5460 ggaatatgta aactttagag gtaatggcgt atagatgatc actgaaatca tggacgtgaa 5520 agaaatcacc ttaaggagaa agtatagagt gaagagaaga ggattgttgg gccatgccag 5580 catttagagc tacaaagatt aaggtgtgtt aaaaagagtg gcccggccag gcgtggtggc 5640 ccacacctgt aatcccagca ctttgggagg ctgaggctgg tggatcactg gagttcagga 5700 gttggagacc agcctggcca acaccgggaa acctcaaaaa tacaaaaatt agctgggcgt 5760 ggtggtgggc acctgtagtc ccatagtccc agctacttga gaggctgtgg caggaaaatt 5820 gcttgaacct gggaggcaga tgctgcagtg agctgagatc atgttactgc actccagcct 5880 gggcaacaga gtgaggccct gtctcaaaaa caaaaaacag aaagagtggc cctggaagaa 5940 agaagatcaa aagagctttc caagaagaat taagaggttt acaggatctg atttctgcct 6000 ttatggattt accgattctg gaagtttcat ataaatggga atcatacaat atgtgtgaaa 6060 ttttatgtct ggatttttca ttttgcataa tgtttttgag gtttatccat gtttttgttg 6120 ttgtggttgt tgttttttga gatggagtct tcgctctgtc gcgcaggctg gagtgcagtg 6180 gcgcgatctc agctcactgc aagctccgcc tgccgggttc acgccattct cctgcctcag 6240 cctcgcgagt agctgggact acaggcgcgc gccaccgcgc ccggctaatt ttttgtattt 6300 ttagtggaga cgaggtttca ccgtggtctc gatctcctga cctcgtgatc cgcccgcctc 6360 ggcctcccag agtgttggga gtacaggcat gagccacggc gcctggccta tccatgttgt 6420 agcatgtatc agtacttcat tttttttgtg actgaataat attccgctgt gtagatatat 6480 ttcacatttt gttcaccatt tatccgttga tggacacttg gtttgtttcc accttttggc 6540 tattgttaac agtgctgcta tgtacattcc tgtctaagtc tttgtttgga aacctgtttt 6600 ccaattcttt gaaatatcta ggaatggaat tgctgagttt tatgataatt caaagtttac 6660 cttctagagg aaccccagca accgtattgt tttacattct tatcagcagt gtttgagggg 6720 tccagtttct ccatgtcctc accaacactt attttttatt atttcctgat tattattatt 6780 attgccatac tagtgggtgt gaaattgtat ttagttgtgg ttttgaattc catttcttta 6840 atgactcatg atgttgagta tcttttcatg tgcttattgg cgatttacat attttctttg 6900 gagagatgtc tgttcaagcc cctttgccta tttttttaat tgggtggttt gtctttttgt 6960 tgttgagctg taagaattct ttatatatct ggttactaga ccctcatcag atatatgatt 7020 tgtaaatatt ctattctgta gattgtcatt ttattttctt catagtgtcc tttgatacac 7080 aaacgtttta aattttgatg aagcccaatt tatctctgtt ttcttttgtt gcttgtgctc 7140 ttgctgtcat agctaaaatt ttatcaccaa atccaaagtc atgaagatct cccccatatt 7200 ttcttctaag agttttatag ttttcgcttg tacatttata ttttatatcc tctaaatttt 7260 gtttataatt taaatcattg ctatagactt ggtccagtga gacctataaa cagaggtctt 7320 aatttactca gtggttaaat tgtcctaaaa ttgatttctg caaaattcag aggggagatt 7380 tttgggattt catagagaaa tctatatcca tacagttaaa tccttcatga tttcatacac 7440 ttcacttttt taaagtatta aaactttttt atttgaagaa tacgtgggga gaagagaaat 7500 atatttcagc acttagatat gtagattatt tccaaaatag tttaccactc aactagtcac 7560 ttctgtgtaa atcagttttc cctgaagcaa gcattgtgtt gttcccggct acaagcggtc 7620 ctcattttgc atggtactgt gggaccataa aaatggccat gcaaagcaat cttaataatc 7680 aatggggaaa atgatgattg ttccatgacc tttaaaattc tgctaaaata ttaaaactct 7740 taaggtcagt tataaatgta gaaaaaaatg caaaaaaaat ttaaaaatat ttagtacact 7800 gtaatttaaa acattaaaaa tagaattaaa gtgttttatt tcattgtgaa aactaagtag 7860 tttgaatagg gattgccttt tttttctgcc aagtgactta tgatactgag taagcatctt 7920 ttctattcat ggcaaactgt catactcctt ttaagtttgg gtgagcttcc agccttttat 7980 tgcttgtgct ttcaatgttg tgaagtattt ctgtattcac attaaatgct ctttagtgtg 8040 aagtttgttt tttttttttt tttaccgtca cttcctctgg gacatattta tctttattgc 8100 aatcactttt cttatttgtg ttgataagtt tgccttcact aagctcctat gaatgcacag 8160 caggaagaac attcccatga tcagtgactt cttctacaaa tccatttatg tttgattcaa 8220 atttcacttc cagtgttatc atttttcgtt gctttgttgg actttcatct ttgttggcca 8280 gttctttcga ttgttcactt ctataaaatg tcaggtggag gacaaagaga cagtgtaact 8340 acgtgctctg ctgtgagtga actgattaac agatgcacag ggaccaacca ctggaagaat 8400 ttgaaacaag taacacgact ggtcactgat catgaagcat atctgttatt tacatcgtga 8460 tttgtagact gaagaactag cagagaagtt tgtacttcct gtaattactc agagttatac 8520 tgtgctacct aaaattttaa cctaggttta aacaacacca gtttccttac cagtttcctt 8580 tccttcctgg taaggaaact ggtatttaaa ctaaatctag gtcactgaaa tttgtgccat 8640 gggaaccgtg cacattgagg acctgcctac accctacatg tttatattgg tccaggcagg 8700 cttaatgctg actactgaga aataggctat ctgaatttat atcaaatagt gaatcttaaa 8760 gcacccaaga tgaaaaattc gtgcacattg aggtgctttt aaaatctttg tcatttgaca 8820 atcaagctta aaatgtatct tagagtaacc gaattttaga aataaagacc tttaaaggcc 8880 ccatagtttg ataccacaga ttatccagca tgtttataat gaattatttc tcctccttca 8940 atttcagttt gctcatactt tgtgacttgc ggtcacagtg gcattcagct ccacacttgg 9000 tagaaccaca ggcacgacaa gcatagaaac atcctaaaca atcttcatcg aggcatcgag 9060 gtccatccca ataaaaatca ggagaccctg gctatcatag accttagtct tcgctggtat 9120 cactcgtctg tctgaaccag cggttgcatt tttttaagcc ttcttttttc tcttttacca 9180 gtttctggag caaattcagt ttgccttcct ggatttgtaa attgtaatga cctcaaaact 9240 ttagcagttc ttccatctga ctcaggtttg cttctctggc ggtcttcaga atcaacatcc 9300 acacttccgt gattatctgc gtgcattttg gacaaagctt ccaaccaggt acaagcggtc 9360 ttccgaattt tgcactcaga aaagtggcat catctaagtc aattacatgc aaattctggg 9420 gggctagttt tttgtgtatg ttaaatgggt cacaacacga cttctgtaaa tcctcaaatc 9480 tgtcaatata aatttttatg tgatgaaagc aaattgtatt gttcctagaa agtgtccttc 9540 cagttctaag ttgaagtaaa agcatgtcat ttgatgacaa ttcttgcaac atcttaaaac 9600 ctgtgtgaca agtatagtag gttttatggc actcatttgt agtacgaagc tggactgcaa 9660 ctatcgatcc atcattgttg attctagcat attttccttg ttttattttg tctagagatc 9720 taggtcacgg gctgatcacc cttagcttga gctctcctcc gcctggcttc cggcaggatc 9780 cacgtccaca caggcacact tgcctgcccg ttcatttccc agcctgtccc catgctacca 9840 ctccacttca cttattatat atactctaaa tctttttctt ctcaacataa aacattctac 9900 aatcctgcag cctttttact tttttaagca ggtaggcaaa catgtagttg atactcagtg 9960 gaagcacaga gcagagttaa agagaaggac cccctttcac tgaccagttg agtttttttt 10020 ctttccttta ttttttaaaa caatttcaaa attgagatgg ggtttcgcca tgttgcccag 10080 gctggtctcg aactcctgag ctcaggtgat ccgcccacct tggctgggat tataggcgtg 10140 agccaccaca cctggccaag ttgagttttt aaagtagaaa attttggaga aattaacttt 10200 attgtgcagt gaatgagaaa gaaagaacgg ttttgaaaga aagtctctgc atttatgtga 10260 gactgagatg agtcctataa aggggagtct ccccaacccc tctgtctcct aaactgcatt 10320 gggaaactca gattaaatat gttctgtgag catcactcat tcaaatgtct cttccattgt 10380 aggatacggg aagaagaaat ggctggtgat ctttcagcag gtttcttcat ggaggaactt 10440 aatacatacc gtcagaagca gggagtagta cttaaatatc aagaactgcc taattcagga 10500 cctccacatg ataggaggta ggttgctata aaaaatgata tggcagccat aaaaaatgat 10560 gagttcatgt cctttgtagg gacatggatg aagctggaaa ccattattct cagcaaacta 10620 tcgcaaggac aaaaaaacca aacaccgcat gttctcactc ataggtgaga actgagcaat 10680 gagaacacat ggacacagga aggggaacat cacacaccag ggactgttgt ggggtggggg 10740 gaggggggag ggatagcatt aggagatata cctaatgcta aatgacgagt taatgggtgc 10800 agcacaccaa catggcacat gtatacatat gtaacctgca cgttgtgcac atgtacccta 10860 aaacttaaag tataataata ataaaattaa aaaaaaaaga aaaaagatat gaccttataa 10920 atgtaagctg ggggaatggc aactctggca caactttgag gtcaacactt tagttttgtg 10980 agagtgctct tggcataaag tgggaaccat ggtggagcca cagttgactc cagagagaaa 11040 agagggtaga aacctttcca tgcttcaaca agacatgctg ctttactgtt tgaggtgact 11100 gcttaaatgc tatattgaat gtaggttcaa accctcaaag gtagtcatag gaggtagtga 11160 tgactagagt acttgttttt agatagtgca tgagttgtat aatattttat gaatattctc 11220 tttgtaatca ggtttacatt tcaagttata atagatggaa gagaatttcc agaaggtgaa 11280 ggtagatcaa agaaggaagc aaaaaatgcc gcagccaaat tagctgttga gatacttaat 11340 aaggaaaaga aggtgagtga ttgccttttt tcctaataaa tgggaacttg caaatacatt 11400 ttctgtttct ctctgtgaga aaatactttc atacagagta aagccattca cacgttccct 11460 tacattcaag agtttggtta agtcattcac cctatcttca tttctatgaa accctgagtg 11520 agagccacac ctaggacacc atgggcaaag ctggataata gttatttaga gtgtcagcag 11580 cagttaaata ctctaaagtt gaacaaatat ggaaaggtga gaagtgttca gtgggaaatg 11640 agctgacagg ttctgggagg agtcccctcc acctaaatga ggaagtacag taaaaaagga 11700 aaaagagatg aaagtgattg tagggagaat aatgtacagt ggtcactcac tctctgtggg 11760 gaattggtac caggactccc tgtggatgcc aaaattcact gatgctcaag tcctttatat 11820 aaaatggcat agtatttaca tataacctat ttacatcttc ccatatacag ttatgcattg 11880 cttaacaagg agaatacatt gtgagaaatg cacctttggg caatttcctc attgggcaaa 11940 catcatagag gtacttacac aatcctgaat ggtacaacca gtacacacct aggctgtgta 12000 gtatagctta ttgctcctag actacgaacc tatacagcat attattgtac tgaatactgt 12060 agccaattgt aacacaatgt ttagtattca tgtatctaaa catatctaaa cacagaaaaa 12120 gtacggtaaa aatacagtat aaaagacaaa aggctgggct tggtggctca cacctgtaat 12180 cctagcactt tgggaagctg aggcgggtgg atcacctgag gtcaggagtt gaaaaccagc 12240 ctggccaaca tggtgaaacc ctgtctctac taaaaataca aaaaattagc tgggcgtggt 12300 ggtggacgcc tgtaatccca gctacttggg aggctgaggt aggagaattg cttgaacccg 12360 ggagaaggag gttgcagtga gctgaggttg tgccactgca ctccagcctg gggatcctat 12420 ctcaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aagacaagca aaagtacacc 12480 catataaggc acataccatg cataaataga gcttgcagga ctggaagttg ccctgagttt 12540 gtcagcaagt gggtggtgaa tgaatgtgaa ggcctagggc attattgttt accactgtag 12600 actttataaa cactgtatac ataagcaaca ttcattttat ttaaattttt tttcttcaat 12660 aataaattaa ccttagctta ctataactct tttactttat aaacttctta tttttaacat 12720 tttcactctt tccaaataac acttagccta aaacacaaac gcggccaggc gcggtggctc 12780 atgcctgtaa tcctggcact ttgggaggcc aaggcaggca gatcacctga ggtcaggagt 12840 ttaagatcag cctggccaac acggtgaaac cctgtctcta ctgaaaatac aaaaattagc 12900 cgggcatggt ggtgggcacc tataattccg gctacttggg aggctgaggc aggagaattg 12960 cttgaactca ggaagcggag gttgcagtga gccgagatcg tgccactaca ttccagcctg 13020 ggcgacaagg caagactctg tctcaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaacccacaa aaccacaaac 13080 aaacacatag tatggctgta caaaaatatt ttgtttcttt acatgtttat tctataagct 13140 tttttctatt tttaaaattt taaacttttt tttttaactt ttaaactttg ttgtaaaaaa 13200 ttaaatcatg gttgggcata gcggttcatg cctgggatgt cgaggagcca tgattgtgcc 13260 actgtactcc agcctgggtg acagagtgag accctgtctc aaaacaaaac aaaacaaaac 13320 aaaggctggg tgtggtggtt catgcctgta gtcccagcac tttggtaggt caaggtaggt 13380 ggatcacttg aatttgggag tttgagatta gcctaggcaa catggtgaaa ccctgtctgt 13440 actaaaaaca caaaacatta gccgggcttg gtggcatgtg cctgtagttc cagctactca 13500 ggaggctagg cgggaggatc acgtgcctga gaggtcaggg ctgcagtgag ctgtgatctt 13560 ctgactgcac tccagcctgg gcaacagagc aagaccctgt ctcaaaaaaa aaaaagaaag 13620 aaaaaaaatt acaacacaaa cacacacatc agcctaggcc tacacagcgt caggatcatc 13680 tacatcacca tcttccacct ccagattttg tccctctgga aagtgttcag gagcaataac 13740 atacatggag gtgtcatctc ctattgtagc aattccttct tttggattac ctaccgaagg 13800 acctgcctga ggctgtttta cagtttactt tttttttttt aagtagaagg agtaacttct 13860 aaaataatga taaaaaaagt atagtaaata tataaaccag taagttactt atcattatcc 13920 agtattatgt actatacata attgtgtgtg ctagactttt ttataagact gtagaacagt 13980 agatttgttt acagtagtgt caccacaaat gtgtgagtaa tgcattgtgc tgtaacccag 14040 gagtttaaaa ttatcctggg caatatggcg aaatgctgtc tgtactaaaa atatgaaatt 14100 tagccattac agtggctatg acctcattag atgacagtaa ttttttagct ccattataat 14160 cttatgggac cactgtcata tatgcagtcc attgttgacc aaaatgtgat tatgtagtac 14220 atgattatcc tttagatcat ctctagatta cttataatat ctctaataca atgtaaatgc 14280 tatgtaaata gtttttttgt tgttgttgtt gtcgtttttt gagacagggt cgtactctgt 14340 cacccaggct ggagtgcagt ggcatgatca agggtcactg cagcctcaat ctccccaggc 14400 tcaggtgatc ctcccacctt agcatcccaa ctggctggga ctacaggcac gagccaccac 14460 acctggccaa tttttgcatt ttttgtagcg atggagtctc actatgttgc ccaggctggt 14520 cttgaactcc tggactcaag caatctgccc acctcagcct cccaaagtgc taggattgca 14580 ggcatgagcc accacaccca gctataagta gttgttatgc tgtattgttt agggaataat 14640 acaagaaaaa aaatctgcat atatttagta cagatgcaac catcattttt tttccaaata 14700 tttttgatcc atgattggtt gaatccaggg atttgaaacc cgtggatata gcgagccaag 14760 tgtttacaga gagcaggtaa tggagaacca atatacatgt gactggtatc ccggaaaata 14820 agaacagagt aaatagtgca gaagaaaatg atctgaagag atttcagcag acaatgttta 14880 tgaaataaag aaagacttga ctgcagatta aaacaactta atagatacag gaaaatttag 14940 aaccacccag accaacattg attctttttt tttttttttt ttgagacaga gtctcgctct 15000 gttgtccagg ctggagtgca gtggcacaat ctcactgcaa cctccgcctc ccatgttcaa 15060 gcaattctct gcctcagcct cctgagtagc tgagattaca ggcacccacc accacggcca 15120 gctaattttt tgatattttt agtagagaca gggtttcact atgttggcca ggctggtgtt 15180 taactcctga cctcgtgatc cactcgcttt ggtctcccaa agtgctggga ttacaggtgt 15240 gagccaccgc gcccggcccc aacattgatt cttatgaaag tactgtgctc cagagatgag 15300 gaaagaattt tataagcatc tagagagaag aggaaaacta tgtaaaatgt aaaaattttt 15360 aaaatttcat gctgtgcaca gcaacattat aaaccaggag atagtgtagc aatgcttata 15420 aaatgaaaca tgaagtcatt tacattttag acaccagagg gccattctca gatttggaaa 15480 atgttgggaa aatttaggtt tcaaggttct ttcttgaaaa atctacttaa agataccctt 15540 ctaaccaatt tttttttaac tcaagcaaaa gtgcaaagta taattattaa tgaggtagaa 15600 aattgagtca agaagttaga aaaaacaaaa aacagaatgt tttaccccca aaaagcagaa 15660 gaaagaaaat aacaatggtt gaaattacta taaaagaaat aaaaaataaa aaaaaaagat 15720 caataaaacc aaaagctagt tttttgacaa gattaataaa atagcaaaac tcagccgggt 15780 gtggtggctc acacctctaa tcctagcatt ttggaaggct gaggcgggca gataacttga 15840 gcttaggagt tcgagaacag cctgggcaat atggccaaac gctgtctcta caaaaaatac 15900 aaaaaaatta cccaggcatg gtggtgtgtg cctgtagttc caggtgcttg tgaggctgag 15960 acaggaagat ggtttgaacc caggaggtca aggctgcagt gagctgaggt tgcaccactg 16020 cactctagcc tgggtgacaa agtgacaccc tgtctgaaaa aaattaaaaa aatatcaaaa 16080 ctttggacaa gatttttgtc ggactaagaa aaaaaggtag agataataat agtagaaatg 16140 atgctattat attcatcttt ttcattaagt tatgatccag tatacagctt tactgtaata 16200 tctcttgcct tgttttttga gattagaaag ggtataacaa gctagaaagt gttatagtac 16260 tttccaagga caaacaagaa aaagtgactt ctttcctatt gttaaaatct atcttcgtcg 16320 atttttttct ggtagaggga gatacgtagt cacacttttg ctcaaggtaa tataatagga 16380 aaatatataa catccaagtt gtctttcaaa ttgctcattt agtaatttta ttagaagaat 16440 gatttttaaa aggttaaatc tttgttgtca tttatattaa acaggaattt tttttctttg 16500 taggcagtta gtcctttatt attgacaaca acgaattctt cagaaggatt atccatgggg 16560 aattacatag gccttatcaa tagaattgcc cagaagaaaa gactaactgt aaattatgaa 16620 cagtgtgcat cgggggtgca tgggccagaa gggtaagaca taatttggct tttctttctg 16680 tttcattgta tttaagcaat aaagttggtt tattttcgtg tctaattttc cagaaatatg 16740 tgtcctttta agcattctgt atgcaaggtt ttacatgatt gataagtaat tggatttata 16800 atttgtaatt aaaatgctta attgctgaag ccatggaacc catttaccat aattgatcaa 16860 attagggtaa tcctttattt cagagaagta gctggatggt ttagtctgtg gaacacccaa 16920 gagagtacag ggtgccactg ctcgaagaat acagaaatct tttcatcatt gaggacatga 16980 tggtggtaac tgtctgaaaa cctctctgcc acatgtatag aatcactctt cacccttgtc 17040 agatcaggga gctctttgtc caggtatttg tccttcaaat ttgattaaat gaacaaatac 17100 catgtatcag aaggaatgag ctttagccct agactatgag gagaccggga tttgagggat 17160 ctgatgagac agatgaacta gagtttcaaa gttactgaga acatcaccag tgagctaaga 17220 tgtgtggaaa taggataaag aatggattgg aactgaaaaa agcagaaatc aaatgagtat 17280 gaggcaattg tttttcaact acaaccaacc agttaaagag aaagaagaaa aaaaatatct 17340 acatggcaaa tagtttaaat catcacttta ggatacactt ctatgaattg actcagctat 17400 ttacagtcat ggcttttgag ccaaaaccag gaagagaaaa atgttatagt attcattgga 17460 atgaaatagt caaaagtgaa tctgtgagtc aatctcaata attaagagat gattttattt 17520 tctgtagctc acttttttgg tttctttaaa ttatgctaac attagatacc taaaagaaag 17580 aagaaatctg tttgcggggg ggggcagtat ctgaaaaaaa taggagctat agaaatgatc 17640 cagtcactca acccagctat ttaattcagg gtctagcggg gaagactcac cctgtttgga 17700 tgtgtttctc tcgatggctt ccaacagaaa cataaagcaa aaggagttca aatactggaa 17760 tcatttttca gtaatagata gtaaccctgt gatataaatt gccatgtcca ttgttttatc 17820 ccttaaaaat agttattata taattgtcca agtatccttg cctaaccaca aatgtcctta 17880 catctaatag gaggagagtg tggactttag tatagggaat ctgcactgtg gggattttct 17940 caaatttttg tgcacatgag cagatggcag acaatggtga agttagagca gaatccatgc 18000 tttgctcttc ccctacacta taacctcata gcttctcctg tggaagccta ctttctctgc 18060 tggctttttc cttcccattt gagcacctct gaaaaaattc actggatctc tttctttctt 18120 ttctacctcc gtatcttttg acctttgggg aattaaaaaa aaaaaatcac cacttagtgc 18180 ctttgtgcca gatctttcag caaagcaaca aaaaattaga aattgcctgg aaaatgcaag 18240 ctcagatgtc agctgatcct gggtattcag agaaattggt caggcatgtt actgagggtt 18300 taaattatgc aagatatgaa ctataaatct atctaataaa ttggtgttat cttaagatct 18360 ctgttaatat gttatttttt ttgaatccta agttggattt gctatatttt tcatgtttgg 18420 ataagtacct tctatgattt ctcctagatt tcattataaa tgcaaaatgg gacagaaaga 18480 atatagtatt ggtacaggtt ctactaaaca ggaagcaaaa caattggccg ctaaacttgc 18540 atatcttcag atattatcag aagaaacctc agtggtacgt attgcctttg gattaaattt 18600 ttatgtttta aaattccctc tgaagttgac ttgaggttag actgtgttaa cattatgcca 18660 agacagccag tgatttagca aaatgattcc tccattctgt gtcgtaccga tgagccatgc 18720 accatggggc catgaggcct cagagggata aaatttctgg tggcaactca gggtagtttt 18780 taaactccag gctgggctgg gtgtggtggc tcacacctgt aatcccagca ctttgggagg 18840 ccaaggcagg tggatctcct gagttcagga gttttttttt tttttttttt gagatggaat 18900 ctcgctctgt tgcccaggct agagtgcagt ggcacgatct cggctcactg caacctccgc 18960 ctcccatgtt caagcaattc tcctgcctca gcctactgag tagctgggac tacaagcgcc 19020 tgctaccgtg cccggctaat tttttatttt tagtagagat ggggtttcac tatgttggcc 19080 aggctggtct tgaactcctg acctcatgat ccacccacct cagcctccta aagtgctggg 19140 gtttacaggc ttgagccact gcacctggcc gaactcagga gtttcagacc acctggccgg 19200 ggcaacacag caaaaccatg tcgctacaaa aaaaaaaaaa aattagacgg gtgtggtggc 19260 atgtacctgt agtcctagct actcaggagg ctgaggcggg aggattgcct gagcctggga 19320 gatggaggtt gcagtgagcc aagattgtgc cactgcactt caacctagac aacagagcca 19380 gatcctgtct gaaaagaaag aaacaaacaa aatatctgcc ctgtgatcca gaaaagtaaa 19440 ataaaaaata aaataaaatc cagaccaaac atccaaaaaa tgttattaat cttgtaattg 19500 tttatggttg tggatttggt aaatgtgttg aaataaatgt gatagtacat agaaactgag 19560 cctctgtaga gaaataatta gttgtattta agcctactaa gggatacttt ttctttcaga 19620 aatctgacta cctgtcctct ggttcttttg ctactacgtg tgagtcccaa agcaactctt 19680 tagtgaccag cacactgtaa gtgtagacaa acaattgaga tacttaacat attcatattt 19740 ctgtctgaaa gacagatttt tatgtttaag gagaatttag ggaaagaaat aagtgataaa 19800 aacagaatta ataaactaat agttacaccc ttttcttcta gcgcttctga atcatcatct 19860 gaaggtgact tctcagcaga tacatcagag ataaattcta acagtgacag tttaaacagt 19920 tcttcgttgc ttatggtatc gtattagtct cgaagcttcc tacttaatct tatttttctg 19980 tgcgtttcct catttaaaaa taacttccag tattccacca taatttttat attttttatc 20040 ttatgcactc ttactaaatg ataatacctc agtagacttt tttttttttt ttttttgaga 20100 tggagtctcc ctctgttgcc caggctggag tgcagtggtg agatcttggc taattaccac 20160 ctccacctcc tggttcaagc gattctcctg cctcagcctc ctgagtagct gggattacat 20220 gcgcgtgtac cacacctggc taatttttgt acttttagta gagacggggt ttcaccatgt 20280 tgttcaggct ggtctcgaac tcctgacctc gtgttctgcc cacctcggcc tccccaagtg 20340 ctgggattac aggcatgagc caccgcgccc ggctcggcag ctttttgact ttttttaaaa 20400 ttaagttcca ttccttaccc ttccacacgt cacttctgtc tttcctcact catccttata 20460 ttttagtata ttcctatgat tttgcttttc tctcctacca atgggataat atttaaagat 20520 tcactaatat agttcgtttc tgtttttaaa aattagaatt aaacttaaaa gtaaacttga 20580 aatcagataa ttttttaggc tggtgcagtg gcacatgcct gtagcctgca gcacttgaga 20640 ggccaaggta ggaggatcgc tttagcccag gagtttgaga ccagcctagg caacatagtg 20700 agaccctcat cgcaaaaaca aacaaacaaa caaaaaccag acaatttttt tgtgcacata 20760 agcaggcaat gttgaactta gagcaaaatc catgcttttg gtgattagtg ttacaagagt 20820 attctgttat aaagaactac aaatcaataa gaaaatggca agcagctcag tagaaaagtg 20880 tacaaaatgt ataaacagat attcagagaa gagataccca aatgggcaac aaatattaaa 20940 agctgcttta ctaggaatca ggaaaattta aatcaaaaca attagatact attttaaact 21000 cattagattg gcaaaaagtt aagtcttaca atactaagtg ttgatacagg gcttgatgag 21060 agtacagaca ttgatggact aagaaattgg tcagagagcc atctagatat acaggaggaa 21120 ggaaaacggg aaaggaagat gactgattta gtcatctgaa actatttctc attttctttt 21180 gttatagaat ggtctcagaa ataatcaaag gaaggcaaaa aggtgagtat cattatgcat 21240 tgaacatatt ttgatctgaa gttttatttc agacttattt attgttctta atacttgtag 21300 agtattgtac acccttattt gagcagagtt tcagaagcag aaagcttgaa atctataaac 21360 aaataatttt agatgtgtcg agaaatcttt gactatgtgc acatgctaca ctgtaaacat 21420 aaagcacttt gggggtatcg ctagagtaat taggttaagg gcattatttt gtacaagact 21480 ggcaaggaat tgggctgttt tcactgtaga agtgttttca agagaagtgt attattttgc 21540 agacaagtaa ggttaaaata gcataaaaac ttggattaaa aaaaggtcaa atgctatgtc 21600 aattaactga agagaaaggc aaagatgtaa atatagtcag aaatgacagt aagatggcag 21660 taggagccat tatgagccac cagtatattc tgagcagtag atagatgtat tgaagaaaca 21720 tggttcttga tgtggatgct tggatggaga gaagagagtt ctgcacatga ggtgccctca 21780 gccacgatta ctgtggcagt caggagggat gaggagaatg tgtgagaaag actgtaaagg 21840 aagagtggac atgacttgag ggaataggtt ccccgtagct gagtgaaagc atgaaggaga 21900 ggtaaaggag aaaggatttg aagattgctt cactttgaac aggatgcagt caagaaccat 21960 ggcactaatg gtgttaagga agttaaggag ttaagggctt agagagaaga cagcagtttg 22020 gatatgttta gttttaggtg gtatttaaac ttccatttgc aggtggctta tcatcagtaa 22080 ggaataacag ctaggatgag ggtgtaagga gatgtacttc ctgaggtttt gagtctggag 22140 gaggaaaagg agaggttagt gacgcatcaa caatgagcac tctaaggtgg aaaaaggaac 22200 cagaggaggg atgaaaaagt attagaggcc agaggagaac ggtaagtata tagttttata 22260 aagaaaaaag ttggctgggt gctgtggctt gcgcctgtga tccccagcac tttgggaggc 22320 caaggtggga ggatggcttg ggtccaggag ttcgagacca gactgggtaa catgaagaga 22380 ccctgtctct actaaaaata aaaagaatta gccaggtatg gtggcacatg cctgtaatcc 22440 cagctacctg ggaggctgag gtgggaggat ctcctctgag cccagaattt caaagttgta 22500 gtgagctatg atcacaccac tgcactccag gctgggagat ggggtgagac cttgcctctg 22560 aagaaaaaaa aagaaagaaa aaggttaaca ttaacactaa ataagttata tttgatttca 22620 attttatttg agttttacat tcaactctta atttttagat ctttggcacc cagatttgac 22680 cttcctgaca tgaaagaaac aaagtatact gtggacaaga ggtaagattt taagtgctga 22740 agaaagaaga aggggtaatg ctgtcggtgg atgtttttgg tagttgtctg tgaaatggcc 22800 atgatcctgt cagttaaaaa tatttgaata agattaacta cgcagggtaa gaacaatagt 22860 cttaggctta tcattaagag ggggcccagg aatgggatga cccatattat gattttgttc 22920 ccaaaccaag aatctagttg gttgttttga tactccctta gctttttagc cctttcttta 22980 agtttttcat cagcgtttct tactaggccc aattggttga gataaaagca acattcctca 23040 cccaatgaga ggcagaggtc ccttttttca gccattatta gatctagtcc ccatctgttt 23100 tggaggacta ctccagccga ggagtctagt ttgtcttgga ctcttataat gcttcaggct 23160 atatcttcta aagaaccctg taattctgtg gaaagagctt taaagtatgt taagggagtg 23220 gccaatctgc ctgctcccaa tccaagtctg gaggttatat ccaaggcagc cattaaagga 23280 atgacgtgga tggccctcct cttcctaacg tattggatgg atggaatggg caaaggttgg 23340 ctaggaggaa ttagtccaat ggagggagaa agataaacta gggtacaggt tccagtccag 23400 ttagtgggga gacaaagata tgtgttggtg ccactcacac aaaaaataag cctttgtcat 23460 aaatacagtt ggagatacag aaagaaaaca agtgaattaa agatgggtgt tttttctttc 23520 ctatggttca ttactccagg tggtcaagga ggaggtcaag gagacaccca ctatagtagc 23580 gatataggaa gagttatttt ttacacattt aatacgattt gatgttgcac cattgcattg 23640 atgttgagcc atggataaag gtgggcgcta ggggcagcac aaattaggcc agaggcattg 23700 gttgagggag aggctgcaaa acgaacaggt tgcagaaatg ctccattcgt ttcaggtgat 23760 acttggtagt caactcggtt agtttgatgg tcagcagggt gtttaacaat gataatgcgg 23820 ttgcattggt taggtttaag gatcttacac ggaaatttcc ctcagaggct gaaaagcaaa 23880 gtgaggcttg ttgtaaaagt ggggtgtgtt taattatggg cccttcaatg ggagggcctt 23940 gtggcttaag gcgttgtagg gagttgtaat aggtttgaaa taatgtgttg gcctgattga 24000 ccttggaagt gggataatcg ccaaccagac tgtcagctct ttcaaaaaag gaagctcctt 24060 tttggagttt atagattagg gttacgtttt ctgttaaaag gtcatgaagg ggtgtaggaa 24120 gggatgtata agctgaagaa gacagcgata aacacatcca gcattctgga gcaaaggaag 24180 agttagcttg cagcaagagg ggttgtgtaa ggtttataga acgttctagt ttgatagcag 24240 tgaggagtgg ttgtatcggt gaggttgatg tgattaggga atttagatag aaagaaacaa 24300 caaaaggagg aaaaagtttg ggtaggaata aagtcctgga aggttccttg aagccataaa 24360 tcccgtggaa tagtaaggag ctgatcagga tgtataatga gagtttcata aggataccac 24420 tgaaggtctg taacaaggct agttaggaag caatgaaagt ttgggagaga aagagacata 24480 gctgcttagg tgaatttctc ttccttttcc tccggcattc atgtgagatg aagggaagtg 24540 gatcctgtgg agacacaaga gaggctgaag gtggtttaga tttgattgtt tggatgtgta 24600 gtgaagggaa gtctgtgttc ttgagagaag tataatgaaa ccagctgggg agtccctgga 24660 gctttgctgc tgtgggtgta gtgaggaaga tctggtaagg ccccttccat tttggtgtga 24720 ggggggaatt gggggtaggg ctgggacctt ttaccagaac ccagtttcct gactgtagga 24780 agggattaaa ggagttgtat tttgtcagca tattcccaaa tgaaatggca gatgatatgc 24840 agaagaggag aaatgagagg ggttgttaga ggtggggctt gaccctgagg tggaacaaaa 24900 ggagcatgag ttcaaatact tatgctcaaa actcccatac atgagttcaa aggggatgag 24960 cattaaaggt ttacgtgaga gtgcccgaat ttttaggagg gccaaagcta gaagtgtaac 25020 ccagtcttta tgtgtttgga gtgagtacct ggtgcgggtg atttttagaa tgccattcat 25080 tttttcaacc tttcctgaag actggggttg ataggggatg tgtagcttcc aggtgattcg 25140 tagggcttgt gcaagtgttt gagtaatttg agaaatgaat tcaggaccat tatcagattg 25200 aaaagaagga ggcaccctga acctggggat gatttctgtt attaatttgg aggtgacagt 25260 cgaagctcat ttgttggttt tcggaaaagc ctcaacccat gccgaaaagg tatcaaccag 25320 aaccaaaaga aatcgaacct tttttactgg gggcatatgg gtaaaatcaa tttcccagtc 25380 ttgtcttgga aggtgtcccc tggcttgatg ggttggaaaa gaagggagtc cagtgttgga 25440 atggggtgaa gctttctggc aaatagagca ttgatggaaa atggctttca actgttcctt 25500 tatatctggg gttatgtgta tgtgggaact taagaaatgt tgtagagggg aatggctagt 25560 gtgcaagagg ttgtggatgt cccataacag agttgttttt tgtttgtttg ttttttgaga 25620 cagattcttg ctctgtcacc caggctggag tgcagtggca cgatctcagc tcactgcaat 25680 ctctgcctct ggggttcaag cgattctcct gcctcagcct cctgagtagc tgggattaca 25740 ggcacgcacc accatggctg gctaattttg tatttttagt agagacaggg tttcaccatg 25800 ttgatcaggc tggtctcaaa ctcctgacct cgtgatccgc ccgcctcagc ctcccaaagt 25860 gttgggatta caggcgtgac taccgcacct ggccaagagt tgttttttca gggtcaggta 25920 ggactaattt gttttgtatg acagtatggg agtttgaatt gtgcccccgc tgtgagtagt 25980 tgttgtattt ggtgtttggg ataaaagggg atatgttgtg tgaggggaaa tagatactag 26040 agaattggat ggttggttga ggtgtgtttt gcccaatagt cagcctcacg gttccctaaa 26100 gaaatgtggc ttttatctga ttgaagtcct ttgcaatggg taactgcagc cttttttgga 26160 agtagagctg cctttagtag acaatggatt agttttccat taatgatagg agttccctta 26220 gctgtgagat agccccactt gctccaaatt tgggcattgg aatggttgat gttataaaca 26280 tatttagaat tggtggtata tattaacttg tgtgtttttt gctagggtta atgctttcat 26340 tagggcaact aattctgctt gttgggagga tgtgcccaaa ggcaaggggg cagcctctac 26400 aactcttcta ggtggaagac agtgggtatc atcacaatat ctctcagtga ctgcatatcc 26460 tgcttggcgg ggagggtttt ttgatgcgct gccatctata aatcaatctg gggctccctt 26520 tatgtgagtg gaagtaaggt ggtaaaacac ggcaagagaa ctttcaatta gatcagagca 26580 tgagtgttgg tcagggtcca aaatcagtgt tgaagataaa agagtagcag gattaggagt 26640 gagcatctgt gaagagagat ggagggttga atgtagggct tgcatgtgag aggatgagat 26700 ggaggtgagc gccttatggc tgagcatatc ttatagactg tgagaagaaa acacctgaag 26760 aggttcatag aatgtgagtt tgtgcctcag ggataattaa agaggctgtg gacaaaattt 26820 ttaagcaaag gggccaggtt ttgtaaatgg ggtctagttg ttttgaagaa tatgccactg 26880 gttggaggga atctcccatg gattgggcta atagtccaag ggcctgatta tgagaactgt 26940 gtaaatatag atgaaaaggt cttagggggt ttggaaggcc taaagtgggg gcctgtaata 27000 aggcacattt taggtgacag aaagcatgat aaaggtctgg ggtaggagtg agtggttgat 27060 caagatttcc tcttgtgtgt tcataaagag gtttagtgat agtggcaaaa tttgctatct 27120 ataatcagaa atatcccact aatttgagga aagaaaataa gtcccttttt gtcttaggaa 27180 atgggacttg ttaaatgcct tgctttcatg ctagtggaat ttccctggta tttggagtta 27240 tgattaatcc tagctatgaa acgtttggag aggttaaatt gggtcttcct tttggatatc 27300 tggtacccac attcagccaa aaaatttaaa agcctggctg tgtgttgaat acagtgttct 27360 agagaggggc tgcaaagaag taaattgtcc acatattgaa gcaaaacact gggttgtaga 27420 ggtagttggg aaaggtccaa tcaaagtgcc tgaccgaaat agtgagggct gtccctaaac 27480 ccctggggga agacagtcca ggtgagttgt tgggagtagc ctgtgtcagc gtcagtccaa 27540 gtaaaagcaa aaaggttttg agaggaggaa gatagaggga taatataaaa ggcatctttg 27600 aggtctaatg cagagaaata gctagtattg ggaagaattt gcaatatgag gatatagggg 27660 tttgggacaa caggacaaac agaacagtag tggagttatt tgttgcaaat cctgaaccag 27720 tctataggag ccatctggtt ttgtaattgg gagaatagga gtattgtggg gagaatgggt 27780 ggggattaaa atattggcag ccaggccagg tcggtgcctc acgcctgtaa tccgagcact 27840 ttgggaggcc aaggcgggtg gatcacctga ggtcaggagt tcaagaccag tctaggccaa 27900 catggggaaa ccccatctct actaaaaata caaaaattag ttgggcatgg tggcacacac 27960 ctatagtccc agctactcaa gaggctgagg caggagaatt acttgaatct gggaggcagg 28020 agttgcagtg agccaagatt gcgccattga gctccagcct gggtgacaag agcaagactc 28080 catctcaaaa aaataaaata aaataaaata ttggcagcca aaagttggga gatgatggac 28140 ttgagtcccc atagtccatt aggggatatt gtgggaccac tatttgacat ttaggatcct 28200 tcattgaaat ttgaattgga gaatggtggg tagctaacat gggggagtca gtgttccata 28260 ctatgggatt tacagggctg aggaatttgg gatttaagtc tgtttgatat ggaatgtctg 28320 aggaagggtt ctgttcttga gatgataata aataggggta gctttggtgt agggttgata 28380 aatgaatgat tcgtccccgt ttgtgtagga tgtcccttcc tagtaaagga gtgggggaat 28440 gaggaatgac caagaaagag tgagtgaggg tgactccctg aaatgagcaa tatagaggca 28500 gtgttttgta tggggtttct tgtatgccct tcattccatc aacagaaaca aatgaacatt 28560 ctaatgggcc ttggtattca gttaatgcca gtagacttgc cccagtatcc aaaagaaagg 28620 aaataatctt accagatacc gtcccaatta acctgggttt tgtggactca ctagatgtgg 28680 gggcgaagga tgccgggtac cctcagtctt ccgttgtcag caccaacagt gaagagattt 28740 cctcctgtaa tgtttggggg gcttcattat gagtggtacc cgaatgggga aggtgtccct 28800 gttgagggca ttccatcgtc cagtgtcccc aaagactgca agttgggcat ggtttggtgg 28860 gaggccaggg gataggacaa gccttttccc agtgtccagg gttgccttat tgaaaacaga 28920 ctcctggaga ggtgggggag tttccctttg ggttattagg aggctttcgt ataactgact 28980 tttggacagc agaggcaagc atctggtatt ttaaatggag atgtttgtcc tcttgaattt 29040 tttgttcctc atctctgttg ttaaagacat ggaaggtcgc atttaggagc tcccaccaag 29100 atgtctgggg gccctcctct aatttttgta attttttccg aatatctggg gtggattggg 29160 aaataaattg gaggtagaga aaagtttgac cttctctaga ttctgggtcc aaattggtat 29220 attttagcat agcttcagtg aggtgtgata agaaaagggc agggttttac tggtgctctt 29280 gtgtaatttc tctgagcttt tcataattaa ctgccttatg ggcatttttg tccatgcccg 29340 tgaggagaca ggtaatcatg tggtctcttc acctgatgcc attgtctccc tgttggcaag 29400 tcccatctgg gcctctatgg gggactgcat cattggccac tggattttgt ataggggctt 29460 tattatggag ttattataat caaggggaac ttaaagtagt ggtgcttgtc caagatggta 29520 atgctcctgt tctgtcaaag atggaactgt gaaatagaat ttgtttaaag atgtgttgtt 29580 cattcaacag aagtttcttg agggcccatt ataaggctaa attatacttc cacccgaaca 29640 gtttaattga cattgcacta tccggcgcac gattgatcat gtctcttgga gaagtaatat 29700 ctagacagat ccaaatggaa tgtggtaatt gtagatcttt gtgatgctta tgtggatttc 29760 tctgacatct atacaagtta ttaatattga aaacaagtac tcctgtaaat cagtgattaa 29820 aaaaaatact tctgtgggaa ttagaattga tccacttgta tctgttttct actttctagc 29880 tccatatcag atttcacttg aaaaaaagtc tactctgctg tagacaatat gtttggattt 29940 aaaatgaaat gtctgaaacg atggagacct gtttgcatca gtggggcggg tcattcaata 30000 taaaacttta aaaaacaata cggaatcaaa agtttattaa gcacccaata tagaattggc 30060 actgtgctgg gcatcaggtt tatggtagga acaaataaaa tggtccctgt tgtcatggag 30120 tttcatgggg atgaccgact ttaaataaat aattacatga acaggccaag cacagtggct 30180 catgcctgtt atcccagcac tttgggaggc tgaggcggat ggatcacttg aggtcaggag 30240 ttcgagacca gcctggccaa catggtgaaa ccccatctgt actaaaaata caaaaattag 30300 caggtgtcgt ggcatgcacc tgtagtctca gctactttgg aggctgaggc aggagaatcg 30360 cttgaacctg gagggtggag gttgcagtga gcggagatcg caccactgta ttccagcctg 30420 ggtgacagaa cgagactctg tctcaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaattgcagg aacaaactat 30480 ggtcagagct gtgaaaggaa agcaatggca tggagagaaa tggaagcagg ggtgaggcga 30540 ggtttctctg gggtcacagt tgtggggagg cctgatggat gagtgggcac agagcagtgg 30600 gtgctaggtg gaaggaaggg cgtatgagaa ggtaaagatg gaaaaggtga tgtgaaagtt 30660 cgagaacaga cagaagagtg tgtgctttga gtgcaatgag gaggggcaca gtgccatgag 30720 atgaggatgc tgagggaggc aggggcctcc tcatttggca ccttataggc catttaaggg 30780 ctttttgttt ttgtggaatg caaaggttgg ctgttggagg gtttcagcaa cagagagaca 30840 tggccagact cagttttcat ccctctggtt gctgcatgga tcatagattg gagtggggga 30900 agagaggaag tggggatcca gttaacgagg tactgctatg gcctaatgga agcatggact 30960 ggggtgaaga tgttggaggc agaggaaagc gggtggatac cagcaatgtg ttttggaggt 31020 agaattgaca ggtcttaatg atggaacacg aagcttgagg gagaagagaa aaccaagtag 31080 aaacctaggc aggcttagag cgtatgccca tttctcttat aaaagcttga tgatagtagc 31140 tgtggagcac aatatagcag ttcctttgaa cattttgtat ttgtgatagg atttttatca 31200 tggctttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttctg tttttttgag atggagtttc 31260 attcttgtcg cccaggctgg agtgcagtgg tgtgatcttg gctcactgca acctctgcct 31320 cccagattca agcaattctc ctgcctcagc cttccaagta gctgggatta caggcactcg 31380 ccaccacacc tggctaattt ttgtattttt agtagagacg gggtttcacc atgttggcca 31440 ggctggtctt gaactcctga cttcaggtga tccacctgcc ttggcctcct gaagtgctgg 31500 tattacgggc atgagccatg gcacctggac ttatcatgac ttttgaaaag ccaggagttg 31560 actgtgactg cctggggtga tatgttacgt tagacttgcc ctgggaggag tgagaggact 31620 actctttgtg agtcaagagt ttctgccaag tggatctttc ttattcagaa ggagagaatc 31680 aaatttgttt tattgtccat ttcacaagtg acattaaagg gaaaggagtg gggaggcggg 31740 ggggtggggg ttgagcatga aatgtcaaaa taacagtggt ttttatcttt aaggtttggc 31800 atggatttta aagaaataga attaattggc tcaggtggat ttggccaagt tttcaaagca 31860 aaacacagaa ttgacggaaa gacttacgtt attaaacgtg ttaaatataa taacgagtaa 31920 gtagtaaatg tttacatttt tttgaatggc aaggtacgct gaatctgcac tattcttttt 31980 tatgcttctc tcttctttat tagggtatca tttatttctt tctgatcctc attaaacatt 32040 tcattctacc aagaggagtt tggcttactc cgagatgatc tcactttact gtggttattt 32100 caataaaaat ggatatacca ttgatcatcc ttttggtgct atcttcagaa ctgaagctat 32160 agagtcattt gctttaaagt gacatgcaaa ttcatgaaat gctccgtatt ttaaaaaccg 32220 tggcaccaga tagaacctat cattacccac aaaataggtg atctttgaga tgttctagtc 32280 ttaccttctt attttataga tgaggaaact aagatccaga gatgtgaagt gattttgtct 32340 aagataaaag ctagatggta attgttctct ggttgtctgt tattgtataa ggcactgctc 32400 caaaatgcag tgcttaaaaa cagcaattta ttgttgtctc taatggttcc atgggttgat 32460 tgtgctcatc tggacaattc tcacttgggg tctcagaggg atttgcagtc agtagtcatc 32520 tgaaaccttg actacagcct atcttaggct ggatatccaa gctggctagc agttgacacc 32580 ggctgtgggc tggaagttca gctgggactg tcaatcagaa tacctccaca tggcctccct 32640 atggggattg ggcttcttac aacttggtgg ctgggtttca agaaggattg tccccagaac 32700 aagtcatcca aaagatcagg agtgagtggc aaggcttctt ttgacctaat ctgaggagtt 32760 ccagaacgtc actaccatca agttatattg gttaaacaag tcactgaagc cagcttagat 32820 tcaaggggag gccaaatagg ccctaccccg taatttgtca ttctagggga tgagttctaa 32880 gaatattatt tagggactgg gtgtggtggc tcacgcctgt aatcccagca ctttgggagg 32940 ccgtggcagg cggatcacct gaggtcagga gttcgagacc agcctcacca acatggagaa 33000 acccctctct actgaaaata caaaattagc tgggtgtgat ggcgcatgcc tgtaatctca 33060 gcttctcgag aggctgagtc agaagaattg cttgaacccg ggaggcggag cttgtggtga 33120 gcccagatca tgccattgca ctccagcctg ggcaacaaaa gcgaaactcc ctctcaaaaa 33180 aaaataaaaa taaaaataat aaaaagaata ctatttaggg aggctgaggt gagtggatca 33240 cttgagccca ggagtttgag actagcctgg ggcaacatgg caaaactcca cctctacaaa 33300 aaatacagta attaggccgg tgtggtagcc acgcctgtag tctcagctac ttcagaagct 33360 gaggtgggag gaccatttga gcccagtagg tggaggctgc agtgagccat ggtcacacca 33420 ctgcactaca gcctgggtga cagagtgaga ccctatctcc aaaaaaaaaa aaagaatgtt 33480 attcaaatta tggatttata tccaagaaga tataaatcac agtgtcattc attaacagta 33540 aaaagttaga acaaacaaaa tatccagcag taaagaaatg agtatatata ttttgttctg 33600 tcccctgatc gatggctgtt ttgcagccat taaaaatgac tggctgggcc aggcatggtg 33660 gctcacgcct gtaatcccag cactttggga ggccaagaca ggcagatcac gaggtcaaga 33720 gactgaggcc atctggccaa catggtgaaa ctctgtctct actaaaaata caaaaattag 33780 ctgggcatgg cagcgtacgc ctgtagtccc agctacttgg gaggctgagg caggagaatc 33840 gcttgaaccc aggaggcgga ggttgcagtg agccaagatc gcgccattgc actccagcct 33900 gggcgacaaa gcaagactct tctcaaaaaa aatgactggc tgggtgcagt ggctcaggcc 33960 tgtaatccta ccactttgag aggccaaggc tggtggatca cttgaggtca ggagtgcgag 34020 accaacctgg gcaacatgga gaaaccctgt ctctacaaaa aatataaaaa ctagccaagt 34080 gtggtggtgt gtgcctgtgg tcctagctac tagggaggct gaggtaggag gatcgcttga 34140 gccctagggg tggaggttgc agtgagccaa cattgccact gcactccagc ctgggtgaca 34200 gagtgagacc ctgtctcaaa aaaaaaagga agaatctaaa ataacattat tttaggattg 34260 tcaaagtatc agtaattttt tttatttttg caaatttgtg tcatatactt taaaacttct 34320 tgcattaaaa aataaaattg taaaatgatt attcttcctc atctttgaaa tctccaattt 34380 atttactgca cttagcatgg aattttctta ggtcttggca acacatccct gtaaagcctt 34440 ccaccatttc accttctctg cataagttat cctctttgtg tatatttgcc acacattgaa 34500 aatcctgaat taggtacttc acactgcctg ggttacctag ccttgctgcc taaatgtggt 34560 ttgcttgtga aatacaaaga ttttaacaca aatctaagca aaacataatg tatgatttag 34620 ctatgaaaaa ttgcactggc tgggtccatt ggctcatgct tgcaatccca gcactttggg 34680 aggctgaggc aggtggattg ctagatccca ggagtttgag accagcatgg gcagcgtggc 34740 aaaaccccat ctctacagaa aatagaaaaa attagatggg tgtggtggtg tgctcctgtg 34800 gtcccagcta ctcaggagac tgaggtggga gaattgtttg aggctagaag gttgaggctg 34860 caatgagcca agattgtgcc actgcactcc aacctgggtg acagagcaag actctgtctc 34920 aataaaataa ataaattaat taaaatgaca tcactggcat ttcaagagta ctacagatga 34980 tttttaaatt gtctgatgct tggcattaag tcgctgcctt ttatttattt attttttgag 35040 acagagtctt gctcttttgc ccaggctgga gtgcagtggt gcaatcttgg ctcactgcaa 35100 cctccgcctc ctggattcaa gcgattctcc tgcctcagcc tcccaagtag ctgggattac 35160 agacatgcgc cactgtgccc agctaaattt tttgtatttt tagtagagat ggggtttcac 35220 catgttggtc aggctggtct tgaactcctg acctcgtgat ccgcccacct tcgcctccca 35280 aagtgctggg attacaggcc tgagccaccg cgcccggcca ctgcctttta ttttatcttg 35340 agagtgagaa ctgctatgtt ttttttcagt atgttcactt tttccttttg aatgtcctgg 35400 cttccattct aaaactatgt gagaaccaca gcaatggttt aataagggaa tgtagacagt 35460 tgtctattac atgaggtgtt ttgtggttgt tatgagggat gtacactgac actgccatgt 35520 tccctgttcc ttttaactag gaaggcggag cgtgaagtaa aagcattggc aaaacttgat 35580 catgtaaata ttgttcacta caatggctgt tgggatggat ttgattatga tcctgagacc 35640 agtgatgatt ctcttgagag cagtgattat gatcctgaga acagcaaaaa tagttcaagg 35700 taactaaaaa taaattctca tagccataat aggatggaag gaaattgtta tttactatgt 35760 atgggccact ggataaggct attaatcatc acgattaatt atcacaattc cctctgagag 35820 acactgttat ctctccattc cgaaggtaag gagaaagtga aaatctcttc cttgctcctc 35880 ctcttgctgc agacttgctc tcacaaccct ctgttacatc ctcagctgtc tgcaaaatct 35940 caggttcagc tttcctgact ccattgtttc atggagagcc ttgttcacgt gccggcttca 36000 gcgcaggctg tttaagtgta gtcttgtgaa gagagtttta acatatagat gctgcatctg 36060 ggggctccct cctcagctac caacactttt ctgtccctct cttaggctgt gattggtgtg 36120 gtgccgtcag agggtctctt tggaatgtaa ctataccact tatgctgggg tggtggggag 36180 tgaaaatatt tttaagacca caagctgaga tgggggcacc ctcatgtttt atgtcagtta 36240 agccattgcc aaacaactgg agatcctaaa gagctggcat ctgtctttga aagtcaccca 36300 acctattatg gggacagtcc tctcactaaa atcctgaggc caatggggtc ccattcattc 36360 attttctcct gccccacctc catctccatg tcgtgtaagt gagaacatta tcatcagttc 36420 aggagttatt gaccgtcagc atacaggact tcagctttca gcaaattctt ggctacctct 36480 tcctgttttc aagctgacat atatacaaag aatataaatg aatattgagg ctaacttaat 36540 tcagaaaaaa aataaaacgt ggttagcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaatca agcctccaat 36600 ttatgtatct tagtaatttg ttggcacttc tcttagagta ccttccctat tgttttaggt 36660 ttgctttccc tttactctct cctattagac tattatcccc gtgacggcaa ggatatagtg 36720 tctaactgat tttctcatct ctaggtgcct ttcatgctta gtagatcaat ggtgaattaa 36780 aaggtttcaa agttacttta tataataatg aaatttagtt tcctgcattg tattcatgtt 36840 cctatttcta tctgttagca atggtgattg cagatcttca gcaatgaaga atgggtggct 36900 catttttttt ttcttctcgt tttttttttt tttttttttt ttgagacggt gtctcgcact 36960 gtcgcacagg ctggagtgca gtggtgcaat cttggctcac tgcaagctct gcctcccgga 37020 ttcacagtat tctcctgcct cagtctcctg agtagctggg actacaggcg cccgccacca 37080 cgcccggcta attttttgta tttttagtag agacgggatt tcaccgtgtt agccaggatg 37140 gtcttgatct cctgacctcg tgatccaccc gcctcggcct cccaaagtgc tgggattaca 37200 tgcgtgagcc accgcgcccg gcctcttctt tttttttttt tgagacagag tcttactcta 37260 tcgctcatgc gggagcacaa tggcgtgatc tcagcttact gcaatctctg ccttctgggt 37320 tcaaatgatt ctcgtgcctc atcctcccga gtagctgaga ctacaggtgc cgcgccacca 37380 cacccagcta atttttgtgt ttttagtaga gatggggttt cgccatgctg cccaggctgg 37440 tctcaaactc ctgagctcaa gcaatccgcc agtctcggcc tcccaaggtg ctaggattat 37500 aggcgtgagc caccgtgccc agcccagctc atattttata aattagctaa acaaataaag 37560 ctctggacat ccgggaactt atgattgaaa taaaaaatgg cctattatat tttgattcaa 37620 atttgtttat tatatttaga tttctatttt gtgacatgtt ttggggttct ttttttttct 37680 tttttttttt ttttttgtga gacggaatct cgctctgtca cccaggctgg agtgcagtgg 37740 cgtgatctcg gctcactgca agctccgcct accgggttca cgccattctc ttgcctcagc 37800 ctccccggag tagctgggac tacaggcgcc cgccaccacg cctggctaat tttttgtatt 37860 tttagtagag acggggtttc accgtggtct cgatctcctg acctcgtgat ccgcccgcct 37920 cggcctccca aagtgttttt ggggttctta agaagataag gtataagctt ttaaaaagtt 37980 atgaaaaact ttaaaaagtt ataaaaaatt ttttataaat ttatatttat tgttactttt 38040 aacatactgt gaattttata cccaggtcaa agactaagtg ccttttcatc caaatggaat 38100 tctgtgataa agggaccttg gaacaatgga ttgaaaaaag aagaggcgag aaactagaca 38160 aagttttggc tttggaactc tttgaacaaa taacaaaagg ggtggattat atacattcaa 38220 aaaaattaat tcatagagat cttaaggtaa gtggaaaatg tactttatta attgatatat 38280 atataatata gtaattttaa aatatatctt ctcagctggg cacagtggct cacgcctata 38340 atctcaacac tttgggaggc tgaggcaggc agatcatctg aggtcatgag ttcgaaacca 38400 gtctggccaa catggtgaaa ccgtgtctct actaaaaata caaaaattag ctgggcatgg 38460 tggcgtgcgc ctgtaatccc agctactcgg gaggctgagg caggagattc gcttgaacct 38520 gggaggtgga ggttgcagtg agccaagatt gtgccactgc actccagcct aggtgaagag 38580 tgagacttgt ctcaaaaaaa aaaattatat atatatataa aataagatag atagatatat 38640 atttttttct ctagttttag aatagtggtt gattgatagt tatgagaaaa tggtatctga 38700 acatttccat gcaaataatt actgtgactg gcacagccaa ctggctgctc tgcccctgtt 38760 cctcctgcct cctctaagtg actcagcttt atttgagagg cagaggggac tctgttgact 38820 gttgctttag gaatatggtt ccctaatctc tcagtcatta ctcgcgaggg ctgtcacagc 38880 tactgggtcc agagtctaat actgtcttgg ttaagcattt caaccccatg attggaaaat 38940 tgcggtaatc ccggactggg aaagtgtatc atcccttagt attttcattt tcctctggct 39000 tttatggtcc ggacaaggag tttccctatt ttttacttct cattaaaatg acagaaggtg 39060 agagacagaa tagcccttca cagcctttcc tccattccct attccctgtg acttgcctaa 39120 gcctgtcaca agctggccgt cctgaatcct gtccctggac ctttgctcat gttcttctct 39180 ctcatgggac actcttctgc ctgccccctt tggttgtaat tcctttactg agcctttcct 39240 gatcactctg gaactgcctt tttctgttct aggcagaagt accttattta tgtggctatc 39300 tgcttatccc acccctctaa aacagcaagg aataaggaat gaaacaaaaa aattccttga 39360 gagaaataag ttcccatata cacagttgtt tattgggctc agagaggaat gagtagccct 39420 taaaaggtat tgcttccgtg gtctgcccag gggctggatg tctgatgcat tggtgttttg 39480 agtctgtctg gttccaatat gtctcttcta caatatctga agttgttctt tgaaggtgga 39540 acattgtcag aactatttca aaaggataaa tgtagagttg gttatgcttt cactttggga 39600 taaatcatac atatagttaa ataacaaata agcacaatta tttctatata aaataatttg 39660 caaataaatg cagaagtgta ggcattaagc tcctagtcct cagaatgaat tagcaaaatt 39720 ctgactggtg cctacccact tacctgccaa ctatgcccca caccgtgtgt gccctgtgtc 39780 atggactgat cttttcttgt gtctatttgc agagaatttt tactctggct gcagttgctc 39840 aagggtcaga ctttattatt cttcttaaat ttttaatttt tatttttttt tgagacaagg 39900 tcttgctctt ttgcccaggc tggagtgcag tggcacaatc acggctcatt acagccttga 39960 cctcctgggc tcaagcagtc ctcccacctc agcctcccgt atagctggga ccacaggtgt 40020 acaccaccac acctggccat ttttgtgtgt tttttttttg tagagacagg gtctcaccat 40080 gtttccgagg ctggtctcaa acttttagac tcaaagtgat cctcctgcct cagcctccca 40140 aagtgctggc attccaggtg tgctccactg cacccggcct caagctttga tactgagact 40200 tctttcatct tctataactt ttcaggctct cactactaca gttgttgatt tctctcctct 40260 aagaaaagat acaatgaagg tgtacaattt tggggttgtg ttttgcaaaa tagcagctgt 40320 aggtggtttt gccagagaat ggtctttacc taacacagcc cctcttacaa aagtctccaa 40380 gtgtttacca ctttctgttg gaatcttagg aactagacca aaggcgctgg gaagggacat 40440 aggggtttct ggagtgaggg cttcttgtgc aaggctgctt ctctctaaaa tgttcagtct 40500 cctaaagccc aggctctggt catcctcagc ctgagcatca gtcctgttcc tgtgcctcct 40560 aggtgaagtt tgcatccctt ttatatgatc tacagcccta tattttgtct aatcatatta 40620 taactgatta gacaaaatgt ggcattattg tttttatttc ttttgtgttt tacaaggtct 40680 cactctgttg cccaggctgg agtgcagttg tatgatctca gctcactgca gcctggacct 40740 cctaggctca agcaatcctc ccacctcggc cccccacata gctgggacta caggtgcagg 40800 ctaccaaggc aggctaattt ttgacatttt gtggagacag gattttgcca tgttgccctg 40860 gttggtctcg aactcctgag ctcaagtgat ctgccgacct tggcttccca aagtgttggg 40920 attacaggca tgagccacca tacccagctt ctttttcttt tctttttttc ttttttcttt 40980 tttttttttt tttgagacag agtctcctct gttgcccagg ctggagtgca gtggagtgat 41040 ctcggctcac tgcagcctct gactcctggg ttcacgagat tctcctgcgt cagcctctcg 41100 agtatctggg attacaggcg cctgccatga tgcccagata attttttgta tttttagtag 41160 agacagggtt tcaccatgtt ggcaaggttg gccttggact gatgggccca cgctgtctgc 41220 ccgcttcagc ctcccaaagt gctgggatta caggtgtgac tcaccacgcc ctgcccactt 41280 tttcttttga atgaactaca aaaagtgatc tgatattttc actagatagc ctcatccagc 41340 ttagatattt acacggcttc acaaattcaa ttttctgttt cttagagtca ggtgatagcc 41400 ttatgtggga ctagcagttt cacttgcaat cctgacatat tcctacacat tgcaacttga 41460 acatagcata ggaatgtttt ctctccacat ccactccaca tctgtctaca gctttccatc 41520 tgtattactg gtgttaggct ccaatctgac tgttaattga attctaatcc aactgctaat 41580 tgctgtatga gccgtcatct caagctggct tctcggaagc tcctccttca gccttccctg 41640 ggcttatggt ctcttccctc ttaggtcctt actaggtagg ccctctcata agtgtgttat 41700 cccgtagagt ctgtgtgttt agcctaagat tgtattaaaa gtccagcctt ttcaaaaata 41760 gcaaaatatt aattttctca tcaactacct tcctgttttt gtggtcttta gaatattggt 41820 cagtagagct gggtgtggtg gcctgtggtc ccagctactt gggaggctga ggtgggagga 41880 tcgcttgagc tgaggaagtc aaggctgcag tgagccatga tcatgccact gaaatccatc 41940 ctggataaca aaatgagaca ctgtctcaaa aacaaacaaa aataatattg gtcaatacct 42000 cctatgggct gggcgtggtg gctcatgcct gtaacctcag cactttggga ggctgaggtg 42060 agcagattgc ttgaggtcag gagtttgaga ccaatctggc caacatggtg aaaatctgtc 42120 tctactaaaa atacaaaaaa attagccaag cgttgtggca catgcctgta atcccagctc 42180 ctcgggaggc tgaggcagga gaattgcttg aacccaggaa gcagaggttg tggtgagccg 42240 agatcatgcc actacactcc atcctgggtg acagagcgag gctccatctt acaaaacaaa 42300 acaaaacaaa acacctccct taaaaaaaaa aaatctgctt aaagaattgc atggataaaa 42360 atatttcaga gctagttatt agcttccagt taacttggta tgctttcatg gtggaaggga 42420 tgtgtttgtt aagaagttgt cagaggcttg gagaaaagac ccccaagaga aattctgcac 42480 aggctaatct gcactattgt tgggaatgga cccattccga gaatctcaaa gttggaaggg 42540 atcttaagga tgtctgcttc agtccctatc agatcatgga ctcatatttg caacatttcc 42600 tcaagtggtt gttcagccct atcttgggat ggggaactgt ctaactccca ttctttggac 42660 aacactatta ggatattagg atattttaaa gctaatcttt aggtcatttc caccctatag 42720 tcctggatct tttcccttgg accatgcaga gtgaatccac cttgcacgtg acagcttttc 42780 agatattcga gggcagctgt gcccagagcc acctctggtg tcagctaaga aatccttact 42840 tctgtccagg cgtggtggct catgcctgta atcccagcac tttgggaggc caaggtgggt 42900 ggatcatgag gtcaggagat cgagaccatc ctggctaaca cggtgaaacc ctgtctctac 42960 taaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa ctagccgggc atggtggcgg gtgcctgtag 43020 tcccagctac tcgggaggct gaggcaggag aatggcatga acccaggagg cggagcttgc 43080 agtgaaccga gatagcacca ctgcactcca gcttgggtga cagagcgaga ctccggccca 43140 aaagaaaaaa aaaaaaaaag aaatcctgac ttctttcagc tggcatttta aagacgagtc 43200 atattaaatt ccctgatttt ggctacctgt gtaagggtaa aggtcttata aataatataa 43260 aaatagtctt ttctgtatat aattaagaca tgtggtaata gtatgttaag ttggtacatg 43320 taagttaaat tttttttttt catagccaag taatatattc ttagtagata caaaacaagt 43380 aaagattgga gactttggac ttgtaacatc tctgaaaaat gatggaaagc gaacaaggag 43440 taagggaact ttgcgataca tgagcccaga acaggtaagg tctctttcct gtctgtctat 43500 attttacttc ttttattttg aaaattataa aaagagtaga cactacttat ataattaaaa 43560 ctgtacagaa gtatatacta aaaattttcc ttaccattct tttctacccc tattcttctt 43620 atcagtttat tctttatcct tttagataat tttctgagtt ataaaaacat acaaacacaa 43680 atatacaccc agattttttt tacagaaaca tatatatgtg tacatttttt caaggactta 43740 ttttgttatt ttgtgactat atagcataat ttctccatat tagttcaaat agatctgcca 43800 cattcttttt ttaacaactg tattatattt caaaatatgg agataccata atttaactat 43860 ttttttaaat ttaatatttt ttgttgttgt tcttattttg ttttagagac agggtcttgc 43920 tctgtcaccc aggctggagt gcagtagtat gattattgct cactgcagcc tcaaaatctt 43980 gggctcaagc aatcttccca cctcagcctc ctgagtagct aggactctag aggcacatac 44040 cactgtgccc agctaattat ttttattttt attaattatt tatttactta tttattgtag 44100 agacaaggtc tcactatgtt tcccaggttg tatttaacta ttttcttatc gaagggtatt 44160 tctttaggtt gtttacaact tcatacactt agacattcct ccttattttg ggtcccaaga 44220 acaaataatt ctgtgataat ctgtgttaga cttcttgagg taaagtgatt gaatagattg 44280 accagtgcat ttcaaactta attgctgttt aattgtcatt ctaaaaaaag tgattctaat 44340 aatactgtcc cgtcaaaatg tatgagaata ctgcatcatc atactctcca gtgatcagtt 44400 ttgggtagtg tgttgaatta ggagtatctt gctattttag tttgtatttt ccagattttt 44460 agtaaggtat gccctctttt catatattta cttaaacatt ttctgcaaat tctctactca 44520 tatcctttcc caatttctca taattaagtt ctcattttct tgtgtatctg taaggaatct 44580 tgatctatat tgggtgttga tcccgtatct gttaactata ttatagaatt tttctccttg 44640 attgttactt ctttgtttat aatgacattt gtggtactgc agcttttttt tttttttttt 44700 ttttttgaga tggagttttg ctcttgtcac caaggctgga gtgcaatggc atgatctcag 44760 ctcactgcaa caacctctgc ctcccgggtt caagcaattc tcctgcctca gtctcccaag 44820 tagctgggat tataggtgcc caccaccatg cccagctaag ttttgtattt ttagtaaaga 44880 cgggtttcac catgctggcc aggctggtct caaactcctg acctcaggta atccacccac 44940 cttggcctcc caaagtgctg ggattacaga cgtgagccac caaacccagc actgcagctt 45000 ttaaattgtc atatttatca atacggctgc taggtttctc atttttattt tggaggcttc 45060 tattacaaga ttatgaaaat attttttggt tttactaaca taaaaattaa ctgcaatttg 45120 aattaacttt tgtttatgta tgagaaagga atctaacttg attttccccg tgtgaatatg 45180 cagttgcttc atcactacgt gttaagcagt taattattta aatgctattt taaggaaaat 45240 tcatagagac agaaagtgga acagaggtta tctggaagaa gggaggaatg ggaacttctt 45300 gtttaatggg tatagcttct gtttggggtg atgaaaagtt ctggaaatag atagtggtga 45360 tggttataca acattgtgaa ggtagttaat gccactgaat tgtaggcata aaaatggtta 45420 aaagggtaaa ttttatgtta tgtctatttt accacaataa aatattattt tatcatatat 45480 aaaattccca cacattcata gatgtgtttc tggactttgt tctgtttcct taatttattt 45540 tatatttctc tctttaatat tatgctattt agattattgt agcattataa actaggcttt 45600 agtatttgaa cagcaggacc tgccacatta ttcttcaatt taaaaatgct ctcagctatt 45660 cacatttaca attccaaatg aactctgtaa tcacattgtc atcttccata actggttttg 45720 aggttttgat agcaattgca tcaaatttga ggattcaggt gaggaacatt gatatcttca 45780 tatatttgag acttctccaa aattggtatt ttctctcact tattcgagtc ctccatcagt 45840 cagcttttgc cagactatgc tgtggtaaca aatgacccca gtttcttagt ggtgcagaaa 45900 ataccaaggg tctatttctt gctcacatga caagtcggca gcagtctggc tggctgcagt 45960 tttgctctga gtgtctcctt cattccaaga cccaggctgt aggaaaaatg ctatctgagt 46020 cactgccgtc ctcaaggcag aaagcaatgg cagaaccttg tgatggcttt tacatgttct 46080 gctcagcagt ggcatacatc actaaacatc attgcccaga gcaaaatgca tggcccagct 46140 caaggcaatg agggtggaga agagtaatcc tctcactagg aggccagtgc agcattgggg 46200 gcaatcatac aacctacctc agagccactt ttatactgtt caaaatctat atatatatat 46260 atatagagag agagagagag agatttatta tgatatatat atatatatat atatatatat 46320 atatattttt tttttttttt tttgagacag ggtcttgctt ttcacccagg ctggagtaca 46380 gtggcacaat catagctcac cactgcgcag cctcgacctc cttggctcag gtgatcctcc 46440 tgcctcagcc ccctcagtag caggactaca ggctcaaacc accaacacct ggctaatttt 46500 tttttgtatt ttttgtagag actgggtttc accatgttgc ctaggctggt ctcgaattcc 46560 tgggcttaag cgatccacct gtcttgacct cccaaagtac taggattaca ggaatgagcc 46620 acggcgcctg gtcatattgt ttatattttt gaagctttct ccagaatctg tattgcattt 46680 tgctattaaa atgagattcc atgcttgaac ccgggaggtg gaggttgcag tgagctgaga 46740 tcgcgccatt gcactgcagc ctggtcaaca ggaatgagac tccatctgaa gaaaaaaaaa 46800 aaaaaagaaa agaaattcca tatctctaat ttgttattag tgtagccgtt aattttaaaa 46860 atatatctct ttatttttaa ttgtggtaaa atatacaaac ataaaattta ccaccttcac 46920 catttttaag tgtatagttt agtggcgtta aatgtgttca cattgttgtg ctttcatcac 46980 caccatacat ccacagatta cttttcattt tgcaaaactg aaactttaca cccgttaaag 47040 aactcctatt ctcctctccc tacagcccaa tcaactacca ttctactttc tgtctgtata 47100 tttgactatt ctagatgcct catgtaagtg gaatcgtacg gtatttaccc ttttgttact 47160 ggcttatttt actcagcata atatcctcaa gatatatcca tgttgtaaca tgtcagaatt 47220 tctttttaag gctgactaat gaattccatt gtatgtatac accacatttt gtttgtcctt 47280 ttatccatca atggacactt aggttgcttc caccttttga ctgtggtgaa taatgctgct 47340 gatgaacatg ggtgtacagc tgttgagttt taaatatttg tctcatatat agtctcatta 47400 tttgaatgtg attttttttt gggttgattg cttttatttt ttaccttttg ggttgtttat 47460 cctattttaa tttctgattt gtaaatgccc gttaaagatt attttgctga caatacagct 47520 ttcaaaatat ctctactatt ttgtcatcca agaatagata tactgagcta tctgatggtt 47580 tgagagtcta gaatggagaa ggcatgtact ttttcctttt ggggagccag ttggcataaa 47640 aaatatagaa cacaataggc cagtggctct ctttaacttc ctgctgcttt cagtatctcc 47700 tgcatcctgt attgctgccc tcacactatt tggttaaaaa cattcatcat tgtactttac 47760 tttttattat gtgtgtgtgg tttttttttc catttaaaaa ccttttgttg gctgggtgca 47820 gtggctcatg cctgtaatcc caacactttg ggaggctgag gtgggcagat cacctcaggt 47880 caaggggttt gagaccagcc tggccaagat gttgaaactc catctccact aaaaaaacaa 47940 aaatacagaa atacaaaact acaaaaatga gccaggcgtg gtggcacgtg cctggagtcc 48000 cagctactct ggaggctgag gcaggagaac tgcttgaacc tgggaggtgg gggctgctgt 48060 gagccgagac cacgccactg cattccagcc tggtgacagc gggactccgt ctcaaaaaaa 48120 aaaaaggcaa cattttgttg aggaacaatt tatacagtat aaaatgcaca gatcttaagt 48180 gtatattttt tcgttttgac aaatgcatac acctctgtaa cttataagac tataaagata 48240 tagaacattt tgctccttca agctcctttc cagtcagtgc ctcctcccca ctgatcagaa 48300 gaaaccagca ctctgagttc tatcaccata gcttagttct tcccgttttt gaccttcata 48360 tgaatggaat catacagtag gtactctttg tatttaattt cttcattcaa aataatatct 48420 tctggaaaaa ctttgttgct cataccagca gagaattcct ttttattgct gagtcgtagt 48480 ccattgtatg aatatgccac aacatgttta tccattcttc tgttgtggtc ctttgagttg 48540 tttccagtta tggaatattg tgaataaata cgctatgaac agttgcaatg caagccgcct 48600 actgggtgct attttaactg ctttacctgc tgcatctcac tctcacaatc aaactctgtg 48660 gttgatactg ttgttatcct tgttttataa ctgagattat tcccatgttg atcgttaatt 48720 tacacagagg attcagctat tcggcggtac agatttgaac ctaggcagtc agactccaca 48780 gattttgcta ataaatagac attgttttgt ggtgtaagat gttttggtca aataactttt 48840 ttgggcttta gaaggctgga tatttatgta aggagcataa caaaggtaaa tctattttgg 48900 tctctttaga tttcttcgca agactatgga aaggaagtgg acctctacgc tttggggcta 48960 attcttgctg aacttcttca tgtatgtgac actgcttttg aaacatcaaa ggtaaaatta 49020 tctcaaagaa agaattaaac aagaaaaatt actgactacc accttcagag tgctgctgca 49080 gacagttctt gccctcacgt gaggatgggc ttgagcatat tagtatctga ctgcaaatga 49140 aatatgaatt ttctgtcttt caaggtttgg cagagaccaa acactttctt aaagaccaaa 49200 aactttgatc ttccctggaa ggtagtacat ctcataagac ttgtaagact tgtcagtcag 49260 taacatttta ttgattgact gctttgtgta agacactgtg ctaagtgctg taagggttgc 49320 aaaaataaac aagccttggc tgggcgcggt ggctcacccc tgtaatccca gctttgagag 49380 gccaaggcag gcagatcact tgaagtcagg tgttcgagac cagcctggcc aacgtggtga 49440 aatctcatct ctactaaaaa tacaaaaatt agctgggtgt ggtggtgcac acctgtaatc 49500 ccaactactc agggggctga ggcaggagaa tcgcttgaac ctgggaggcg gaggttgcag 49560 tgagccaaga tcacaccact gcactccagc ctgggtgaca gagtgacatt ccatctctaa 49620 ataaataaat gaataaagcc ttgttctcaa ggagcttatt ttctaaaagg gaagataata 49680 taagagaatg ccataagcat tttaggagaa ggcatgaagt ctgtggaagc agctgggagg 49740 gagatctttc cagctgtagg gacttaggtt tcatggagac atctaagctg ggctctgaag 49800 gatctgttgg cttctaatag tccaaaacag aaaagttgat tctagcatgg aggcgggaat 49860 gtacagagtg tatttgggga cagcaggcag tgtaagttgt attggagtat ataagttaca 49920 aggaagtagt ggttggtgag gctagaaaga taggttgggc taacttgagg aaaaaatgtg 49980 gaccttcttg cttagacagt ggggagtcac taaaggcagt aggcaagtgg atatcctact 50040 cttttttttt ttttttttga gatagagttt cacttttatt gcccaggctg gagtgcaatg 50100 gcgcgatctt ggctcactgt aacttctgcc tcccaggttc aagcaattct cctgcctcag 50160 cctcccaagt aactgggact acaggcgtgc accaccatgc ctggttaatt tttttgtatt 50220 tagtagagat ggggtttcac catgttggtc aggctggtct cgaactcctg acctctggca 50280 atccacccgc ctcggcctcc cagagtgttg ggattacagg tgtgagccac tgcacccagc 50340 tggatatcct actcttaagc tcaggaaagg gaactttcct ggagtcaata accttatcct 50400 ctgtaaaaca gttagaagta cctatcactt agggttccaa aatgcatgaa gggagattgt 50460 aaagatgatg cacttaacac ttcatgtcgt aatgcaagga tggttattag attgggggta 50520 gtgtaggaga gagggaatcc tgcttgcttc ttggctaaag agactttccc aaaaaatctg 50580 gaaatatcct acatttcagg tattcctcag cctttagttc tgtctttcct cccaagtaaa 50640 taatttccta atatacacct atcatttttt tttccagttt ttcacagacc tacgggatgg 50700 catcatctca gatatatttg ataaaaaaga agtaagcact tgaaaatcat cagaatttta 50760 tttatttcaa tgttttattt cttactattg actctcactg tcattgcaga aaactcttct 50820 acagaaatta ctctcaaaga aacctgagga tcgacctaac acatctgaaa tactaaggac 50880 cttgactgtg tggaagaaaa gcccagagaa aaatgaacga cacacatgtt agagcccttc 50940 tgaaaaagta tcctgcttct gatatgcagt tttccttaaa ttatctaaaa tctgctaggg 51000 aatatcaata gatatttacc ttttatttta atgtttcctt taatttttta ctatttttac 51060 taatctttct gcagaaacag aaaggttttc ttctttttgc ttcaaaaaca ttcttacatt 51120 ttactttttc ctggctcatc tctttattct tttttttttt ttaaagacag agtctcgctc 51180 tgttgcccag gctggagtgc aatgacacag tcttggctca ctgcaacttc tgcctcttgg 51240 gttcaagtga ttctcctgcc tcagcctcct gagtagctgg attacaggca tgtgccaccc 51300 acccaactaa tttttgtgtt tttaataaag acagggtttc accatgttgg ccaggctggt 51360 ctcaaactcc tgacctcaag taatccacct gcctcggcct cccaaagtgc tgggattaca 51420 gggatgagcc accgcgccca gcctcatctc tttgttctaa agatggaaaa accaccccca 51480 aattttcttt ttatactatt aatgaatcaa tcaattcata tctatttatt aaatttctac 51540 cgcttttagg ccaaaaaaat gtaagatcgt tctctgcctc acatagctta caagccagct 51600 ggagaaatat ggtactcatt aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaagtga tgtacaacca cttcggaaaa 51660 caatttggca ttatctagta aagttgaatc catgtatacc cacatagcta tcaattctat 51720 tcctacatac gtgcttacaa gaatgtccat aaaaccctgt ttataatagc caaaagaaca 51780 gggaacaacc ataatgcaca tcaaaagaag aatggattaa aaaaattata ttcacacaca 51840 ggagtactat atagtattga aaacaattga agtacagcta aatgtaataa cgtaacacaa 51900 tacaactctc agaaacataa tgttaagcga acaaagcagg ttttcagaaa atatatgcag 51960 aataattcca tttatataaa gttccagagc atgcaaaact aaatcatttt gtataaaaaa 52020 cccaacaaat gtgatgagac aataatggga aggaagggaa tgagaaatat taaattctgg 52080 atggtggtta tctttgaggg aggggaatga tgtgattggg gaaatggact ttcaaaggta 52140 atggtaactt ccttaagctg gatggtaggt ccactagtgt ttgctgcata gttatacctt 52200 ttatcttaaa tacattttgt atctattgta acaaccactt taaagacaac cgtgctgtaa 52260 ggcagtagct aaaaacagaa aatagtccat cgggaagggt aagatggctt tctgctgagc 52320 acagggctag aagtgacagc ccagtgggcc ttccaactat atgccagggt gttagatgag 52380 tagagaggag accacccagg aagtctggac aaggggtctg gcatgagctc tggagaagat 52440 atatttgagg aacatggggt atgctagttt gttgtcctga attgctgtag agaagataat 52500 ttaaattgca tcttagaaga cgaccctgag ggtgaatttc aacttagggc aattgtttta 52560 gtttgtttct tattggttta aatggatact tgaagctgga taatttataa ggaaaagaga 52620 tttatatgac ttacagttct gcaggctgta caagaaacat ggcaccagca tctgcttctt 52680 ccccggctgc ttccactcat ggtggaaggt gaaggggagc cggatgtgca gagatcatat 52740 ggcaagagag gaagcaagag agcgagggag aaggtgccag gctcttttta aataaccggc 52800 tcttgaggga actaatagat tgagaactcc ttgcttctcc tccccagcac accccacccc 52860 cagggacggc attaatgtat tcatgagggg tcttccccca tgacccaaac acctcccatc 52920 aggccccacc tccaacactg ggatcaaatt tcaacatgag attttggggg acaaacatgc 52980 aaactatagc agcaaccagc 53000 11 508 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)...(508) n = A,T,C or G 11 aggatacgga aagaagaaat ggctggtgat ctttcagcag gtttcttcat ggaggaactt 60 aatacatacc gtcagaagca gggagtagta cttaaatatc aaganctgcc taattcagga 120 cctccacatg ataggaggta ggttgctata aaaaatgata tggcagccat aaanaatgat 180 gagttcatgt cctttgtagg gacatggatg aagctggaaa ccattattct cagcaaacta 240 tcgcaaggac aaaaaaacca aacaccgcat gttctcactc ataggtgaga actgagcaat 300 gagaacacat ggacacagga aggggaacat cacacaccag ggactgttgt ggggtggggg 360 gaggggggag ggatagcatt aggagatata cctaatgcta aatgacgagt taatgggtgc 420 agcacaccaa catggcacat gtatacatat gtaacctgca cgttgtgcac atgtacccta 480 aaacttaaag tataataata ataaaatt 508 12 492 DNA Homo sapiens 12 accagtttct ggagcaaatt cagtttgcct tcctggattc gtaaattgta atgacctcaa 60 agctttagca gttcttccat ctgactcagg tttccttttc tggcggtctt cagtatcaac 120 atccacactt ccattgatta tctgtgtgca ttttggacaa agcttccaac caggtacaag 180 ctgtcttcca aatttagcac tcagaaaagt ggcatcatct aagtcaatta catgcaaatt 240 ttttggctaa tttcttgtgt atgttaaatg ggtcacaaca tgacttctgt aaatcctcaa 300 atctgtcaat gtaaattttt acatgatgaa agcaaattgt attgttccca gaaagtgtca 360 ttccagttct aagttgaagt aaaagcatat catttgatga caattcttgc aaagtcttaa 420 aacctgtgtg acgagtatag taggttttat ggcactcatt tgtagtacga agctggactc 480 caactgaaca tg 492 13 458 DNA Homo sapiens 13 ccatttatac tctactctca gtatggatta ttaatgtatt ttaatattct gtttaggccc 60 actaaggcaa aatagcccca aaacaagact gacaaaaatc tgaaaaacta atgaggatta 120 ttaagctaaa acctgggaaa taggaggctt aaaattgact gccaggctgg gattacaggg 180 atgagccacc gcgcccagcc tcatctcttt gttctaaaga tggaaaaacc acccccaaat 240 tttcttttta tactattaaa gaatcaatca attcatatct atttattaaa tttctaccgc 300 ttttaggcca aaaaaatgta agatcgttct ctgcctcaca tagcttacaa gccagctgga 360 gaaatatggt actcattaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaagtgatgt acaaccactt cggaaaacaa 420 tttggcatta tctagtaaag ttgaatccat gtataccc 458 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 14 caagtgtgga gctgaatgcc 20 15 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 15 ctgtggttct accaagtgtg 20 16 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 16 cgtgcctgtg gttctaccaa 20 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 17 tctatgcttg tcgtgcctgt 20 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 18 gacctcgatg cctcgatgaa 20 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 19 tatgatagcc agggtctcct 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 20 ccagcgaaga ctaaggtcta 20 21 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 21 ataccagcga agactaaggt 20 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 22 gctccagaaa ctggtaaaag 20 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 23 caaatccagg aaggcaaact 20 24 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 24 cagagaagca aacctgagtc 20 25 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 25 aaatgcacgc agataatcac 20 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 26 tccaaaatgc acgcagataa 20 27 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 27 ttcccgtatc ctggttggaa 20 28 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 28 atcaccagcc atttcttctt 20 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 29 gcagttcttg atatttaagt 20 30 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 30 aggtcctgaa ttaggcagtt 20 31 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 31 ataacttgaa atgtaaacct 20 32 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 32 tctattataa cttgaaatgt 20 33 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 33 ccttcacctt ctggaaattc 20 34 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 34 tgatctacct tcaccttctg 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 35 agctaatttg gctgcggcat 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 36 tcaacagcta atttggctgc 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 37 gaattcgttg ttgtcaataa 20 38 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 38 gataatcctt ctgaagaatt 20 39 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 39 acactgttca taatttacag 20 40 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 40 ataatgaaat ccttctggcc 20 41 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 41 cctgtaccaa tactatattc 20 42 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 42 tagtagaacc tgtaccaata 20 43 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 43 cctgtttagt agaacctgta 20 44 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 44 tgcttcctgt ttagtagaac 20 45 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 45 taaagagttg ctttgggact 20 46 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 46 ttcagaagcg agtgtgctgg 20 47 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 47 ccttcagatg atgattcaga 20 48 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 48 gtcactgtta gaatttatct 20 49 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 49 gaactgttta aactgtcact 20 50 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 50 tgccaaagat ctttttgcct 20 51 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 51 tctttcatgt caggaaggtc 20 52 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 52 aaaacttggc caaatccacc 20 53 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 53 ttgctttgaa aacttggcca 20 54 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 54 ctgtgttttg ctttgaaaac 20 55 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 55 gtttaataac gtaagtcttt 20 56 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 56 ctccgccttc tcgttattat 20 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 57 tttatcacag aattccattt 20 58 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 58 tgttccaagg tccctttatc 20 59 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 59 agatctctat gaattaattt 20 60 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 60 tattacttgg cttaagatct 20 61 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 61 tactaagaat atattacttg 20 62 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 62 gcgaagaaat ctgttctggg 20 63 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 63 acttcctttc catagtcttg 20 64 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 64 aattagcccc aaagcgtaga 20 65 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 65 gatgtttcaa aagcagtgtc 20 66 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 66 aactttgatg tttcaaaagc 20 67 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 67 ctgtgaaaaa ctttgatgtt 20 68 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 68 gagtaatttc tgtagaagag 20 69 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 69 tgagagtaat ttctgtagaa 20 70 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 70 gcttttcttc cacacagtca 20 71 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 71 gaagggctct aacatgtgtg 20 72 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 72 gatacttttt cagaagggct 20 73 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 73 aaggtaaata tctattgata 20 74 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 74 ctgtttctgc agaaagatta 20 75 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 75 atgtttttga agcaaaaaga 20 76 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 76 ttgattcatt aatagtataa 20 77 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 77 gcggtagaaa tttaataaat 20 78 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 78 ccagctggct tgtaagctat 20 79 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 79 tttaatgagt accatatttc 20 80 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 80 tatgagcaaa ctgaaattga 20 81 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 81 attgacttag atgatgccac 20 82 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 82 gttgaatgta aaactcaaat 20 83 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 83 cttggattgg gagcaggcag 20 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 84 aactcctgac ctcaggtgat 20 85 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 85 ctcaagtcca tcatctccca 20 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 86 ttgtccttgc gatagtttgc 20 87 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 87 ccttcctgtg tccatgtgtt 20 88 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 88 tgcacccatt aactcgtcat 20 89 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 89 tctgggaaca atacaatttg 20 90 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 90 caaatgagtg ccataaaacc 20 91 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 91 aatgccaaat tgttttccga 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding Protein Kinase R, wherein said compound specifically hybridizes with said nucleic acid molecule encoding Protein Kinase R and inhibits the expression of Protein Kinase R.
 2. The compound of claim 1 which is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 3. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide has a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 53, 55, 56, 60, 63, 64, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 78, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87 or
 91. 4. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.
 5. The compound of claim 4 wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
 6. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety.
 7. The compound of claim 6 wherein the modified sugar moiety is a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar moiety.
 8. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified nucleobase.
 9. The compound of claim 8 wherein the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 10. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 11. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length which specifically hybridizes with at least an 8-nucleobase portion of an active site on a nucleic acid molecule encoding Protein Kinase R.
 12. A composition comprising the compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
 13. The composition of claim 12 further comprising a colloidal dispersion system.
 14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the compound is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 15. A method of inhibiting the expression of Protein Kinase R in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Protein Kinase R is inhibited.
 16. A method of treating an animal having a disease or condition associated with Protein Kinase R comprising administering to said animal a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Protein Kinase R is inhibited.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition results from an infection.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the disease or condition is associated with apoptosis.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition is an autoimmune disorder.
 20. A method of modulating the process of RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) in a cell or animal comprising administering to said cell or animal a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Protein Kinase R is inhibited. 